Opinion ID: 1154942
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: propriety of the deadly weapon enhancement

Text: Valdobinos argues also that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on the deadly weapon charge under RCW 9.94A.125, because the State proved only that it found an unloaded .22 rifle under a bed in the home. We agree. RCW 9.94A.125, authorizing an enhanced sentence if the defendant is armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the commission of the crime, states: In a criminal case wherein there has been a special allegation and evidence establishing that the accused or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the commission of the crime, the court shall make a finding of fact of whether or not the accused or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the commission of the crime. .. . For purposes of this section, a deadly weapon is an implement or instrument which has the capacity to inflict death and from the manner in which it is used, is likely to produce or may easily and readily produce death. The following instruments are included in the term deadly weapon: ... pistol, revolver, or any other firearm.... (Italics ours.) [8] The statute authorizes an enhancement only if the defendant was armed with a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime. A person is armed if a weapon is easily accessible and readily available for use, either for offensive or defensive purposes. See State v. Sabala, 44 Wn. App. 444, 723 P.2d 5 (1986) (defendant was armed with a deadly weapon under RCW 9A.04.110(6) when the gun was under his seat in the car he was in, within reach, and thus easily accessible). On this record, evidence that an unloaded rifle was found under the bed in the bedroom, without more, is insufficient to qualify Valdobinos as armed in the sense of having a weapon accessible and readily available for offensive or defensive purposes. The trial court therefore erred in relying on the provision of RCW 9.94A.125 permitting a sentence to be enhanced if a defendant is armed with a deadly weapon. See count 3, possession with intent to deliver. The sentence enhancement imposed under RCW 9.94A.125 is therefore stricken. [2]