Court Opinion

ID: 4238215
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-22 20:35:34.386722+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:55.200725
License: Public Domain

FiCELO .
                                                COWIT aPLS
                                                          WASHItiGTON
                                                 STATE OF
                                                                    11
                                                 21318 JAN 22 fHIQ:

 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                 No. 75392-4-1
                     Respondent,
                                                 DIVISION ONE
              V.
                                                 UNPUBLISHED OPINION
ANTHONY DYLAN WEBB,

                     Appellant.                  FILED: January 22, 2018

       TRICKEY, J. — The State charged Anthony Webb with second degree

assault for inflicting substantial bodily harm on Joshua McIntyre. The trial court

permitted McIntyre to testify that, prior to being assaulted by Webb, he had

reported to police that Webb had stolen beer. The trial court denied Webb's

requests for an instruction on third degree assault and an instruction on voluntary

intoxication. After Webb was convicted, his judgment and sentence stated that no

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sample was required, but the trial court issued an

order requiring DNA testing.

       Webb appeals, arguing that the trial court erred when it admitted McIntyre's

testimony, declined to instruct the jury on assault in the third degree and voluntary

intoxication, and issued conflicting orders regarding DNA testing. We remand for

vacation of the trial court's order requiring Webb to submit to DNA testing, and

otherwise affirm.
No. 75392-4-1 /2

                                       FACTS

       On September 13, 2015, McIntyre was fishing and spending time with

friends on a beach in Snohomish County. Webb and his friend, Alexander Calpo,

arrived at the beach and began to drink from a half gallon of vodka with several of

their friends.

       Webb confronted McIntyre about an incident that had occurred the prior

week. McIntyre had been contacted by the police about Webb's whereabouts,

which McIntyre provided. Webb asked McIntyre in an angry manner why he had

told the police that Webb had stolen beer and provided his whereabouts.

       McIntyre attempted to walk away to a parking lot near the beach, but Webb

and Calpo followed him. Webb continued to speak aggressively, and approached

to within a couple feet of McIntyre. McIntyre asked Webb to stop. Webb began

pushing McIntyre, who said that he did not want to fight.

       As McIntyre tried to get into a car, Webb began to punch him in the head,

chest, and side. Calpo also began punching McIntyre. McIntyre attempted to

defend himself and run away. Webb or Calpo kicked McIntyre's feet from under

him and knocked him to the ground. Webb and Calpo proceeded to kick, stomp,

and punch McIntyre. Webb and Calpo's assault of McIntyre lasted for 10 to 15

minutes, including occasional breaks. Witnesses to the assault stated that Webb

was acting angrily and may have been drinking, but was not slurring his speech.

       Two of McIntyre's friends eventually arrived in their vehicle, and McIntyre

was able to enter it despite Webb's continuing attacks. McIntyre's friends took him

to the Arlington hospital. McIntyre received five stitches for a cut on his face, which

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No. 75392-4-1/ 3

resulted in a one-inch scar. He also reported that parts of his back were very sore,

although they did not bruise immediately. Nine days after the incident, pictures

were taken of McIntyre's scar and a large bruise on his back shaped like a shoe

print.

         Deputy Ryan Phillips of the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office was

dispatched in response to a report of a fight. When Deputy Phillips arrived in the

parking lot, he observed five males standing around a sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Two of the males ran around to the other side of the SUV. Deputy Phillips could

see through the SUV's windows that one of the males had large diamond or cubic

zirconia stud earrings in his ears. After Deputy Phillips ordered the two males to

come back around the SUV,the male with the earrings ran away from the parking

lot. The remaining male, later identified as Calpo, eventually came around the

SUV and complied with Deputy Phillips's orders.. Deputy Phillips noted that Calpo

was quite intoxicated.

         The male with the earrings, later identified as Webb, eventually returned to

the parking lot. Deputy Phillips noted that Webb was intoxicated when he was

arrested, but did not request a breath test when Webb was booked into jail because

he was not concerned by Webb's level of intoxication.

         The State charged Webb by amended information with one count of assault

in the second degree. Prior to trial, the State moved to admit evidence that Webb

had confronted McIntyre because McIntyre had told the police that Webb had

stolen beer.     Webb objected, arguing that the evidence was impermissible

propensity evidence under ER 404(b). The trial court granted the State's motion

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No. 75392-4-1 /4

because the evidence was relevant to Webb's motive and its probative value was

not outweighed by its potential prejudice.

         At trial, McIntyre testified that he had told the police Webb's whereabouts.

McIntyre also testified that, when Webb confronted him at the beach, he explained

to Webb that he had seen Webb steal the beer and did not want to get in trouble

with the police.

         Webb testified that he could not remember what he was thinking when he

assaulted McIntyre.        Webb stated that he "kind of blacked out" during the

altercation due to intoxication, and that his drinking affected his speech, thinking,

and motor skills) But Webb also testified that, immediately after McIntyre left the

parking lot, he "snapped out of it" and "became aware" of what was going on.2

         After the close of evidence, Webb requested a jury instruction on third

degree assault. The State objected, arguing that McIntyre's testimony did not

establish the elements of third degree assault. The trial court agreed with the

State, and denied Webb's request. The trial court did instruct the jury on the lesser

degree offense of assault in the fourth degree.

         Webb also requested a jury instruction on voluntary intoxication. The State

agreed that Webb's charged offense had a mental state element and that Webb's

testimony established that he was intoxicated. But the State argued that the

evidence at trial did not establish that Webb's intoxication barred him from forming

the intent required for second degree assault. The trial court agreed with the State,

and declined to give the instruction.

1 Report of Proceedings(RP)(April 26, 2016) at 576-79, 603.
2   RP (April 26, 2016) at 582-83.
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No. 75392-4-1 / 5

       Webb was convicted of assault in the second degree and sentenced to 61.5

months of confinement. At Webb's sentencing hearing, the State noted that Webb

had already had his DNA tested and, therefore, further testing was unnecessary.

Webb's judgment and sentence stated that he did not need to submit to DNA

testing. But the trial court issued a written order requiring Webb to provide a DNA

sample.

       Webb appeals.

                                   ANALYSIS

                                    ER 404(b)

       Webb argues that the trial court erred because McIntyre's testimony that he

had spoken to police and told them that Webb had stolen beer violated ER 404(b).

The State responds that the trial court properly admitted McIntyre's testimony as

evidence of Webb's motive. We agree with the State.

      Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove
      the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
      therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such
      as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
      identity, or absence of mistake or accident.

ER 404(b). The admission of evidence of other crimes "depend[s]on its relevance

and the balancing of its probative value and danger of unfair prejudice." State v.

Gresham, 173 Wn.2d 405,420, 269 P.3d 207(2012).

       To admit evidence of a person's prior acts,"the trial court must(1)find by a

preponderance of the evidence that the misconduct occurred, (2) identify the

purpose for which the evidence is sought to be introduced,(3) determine whether

the evidence is relevant to prove an element of the crime charged, and (4) weigh

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No. 75392-4-1 /6

the probative value against the prejudicial effect." State v. Vy Thanq, 145 Wn.2d

630,642,41 P.3d 1159 (2002).

       A trial court's evidentiary rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion. State

v. Halstein, 65 Wn. App. 845, 849-50, 829 P.2d 1145 (1992). A trial court abuses

its discretion when its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable

grounds or reasons. In re Det. of Duncan, 167 Wn.2d 398, 402, 219 P.3d 666

(2009). "A decision is based on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons if the

trial court applies the wrong legal standard or relies on unsupported facts." In re

Duncan, 167 Wn.2d at 403.

       Here, ER 404(b) permits otherwise inadmissible evidence to be admitted on

the issue of the defendant's motive. McIntyre's testimony that he had spoken to

police, and that Webb was aware of that fact and questioned McIntyre about it

immediately before assaulting him, was relevant to and probative on the issue of

Webb's motive in confronting and assaulting McIntyre.

       The probative value of the testimony was not outweighed by its potential

prejudice against Webb. McIntyre's testimony concerned an accusation against

Webb. McIntyre's testimony did not include whether Webb had been arrested or

otherwise prosecuted for the alleged theft. Moreover, the alleged offense was a

nonviolent property crime while the present case involves a serious violent offense.

       Although any evidence of prior criminal behavior could prejudice Webb,the

prejudicial impact of McIntyre's testimony was mitigated by the dissimilarity

between the two offenses. Thus, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its

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No. 75392-4-1 /7

discretion when it permitted McIntyre to testify that he had told police that Webb

had stolen beer and that he had seen Webb take the beer under ER 404(b).

                       Third Degree Assault Jury Instruction

       Webb argues that the trial court erred when it declined to instruct the jury

on third degree assault.      The State responds that the trial court correctly

determined that there was insufficient evidence to support giving the instruction.

We agree with the State.

       A defendant may only be tried for the offense for which he is charged. State

v. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d 448, 453, 6 P.3d 1150 (2000)(quoting WASH.

CONST. art. 1, § 22)(citing State v. Peterson, 133 Wn.2d 885, 889, 948 P.2d 381

(1997)). But "a defendant can be found guilty of a crime that is an inferior degree

of the crime charged."      Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 453 (citing RCW

10.61.003).

       "A person is guilty of assault in the second degree if he or she, under

circumstances not amounting to assault in the first degree: (a) [i]ntentionally

assaults another and thereby recklessly inflicts substantial bodily harm." RCW

9A.36.021(1)(a). "A person is guilty of assault in the third degree if he or she,

under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first or second degree: ...(f)

[w]ith criminal negligence, causes bodily harm accompanied by substantial pain

that extends for a period sufficient to cause considerable suffering."          RCW

9A.36.031(1)(f).

       A trial court properly administers an instruction on an inferior degree offense

when

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No. 75392-4-1/ 8

       "(1) the statutes for both the charged offense and the proposed
       inferior degree offense proscribe but one offense;(2)the information
       charges an offense that is divided into degrees, and the proposed
       offense is an inferior degree of the charged offense; and (3) there is
       evidence that the defendant committed only the inferior offense."

Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 454 (internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting

Peterson, 133 Wn.2d at 891). "[T]he evidence must raise an inference that only

the . . . inferior degree offense was committed to the exclusion of the charged

offense." Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 455.

       "If the [trial court's decision regarding jury instructions] was based on a

factual determination, it is reviewed for abuse of discretion." State v. Condon, 182

Wn.2d 307, 315-16, 343 P.3d 357(2015)(citing State v. Walker, 136 Wn.2d 767,

772,966 P.2d 883(1998)). "When determining if the evidence at trial was sufficient

to support the giving of an instruction, the appellate court is to view the supporting

evidence in the light most favorable to the party that requested the instruction."

Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 455.

       Here, the evidence at trial did not raise an inference that Webb committed

third degree assault to the exclusion of his charged offense of second degree

assault. McIntyre testified that he suffered a cut that required stitches, bruises that

were visible at least nine days after the incident, and soreness in his back on the

day of the incident. McIntyre did not testify about pain from his injuries beyond

when he was examined on the day of the incident. Thus, he did not testify that his

injuries caused him lasting and substantial pain that rose to the level of

considerable suffering.

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No. 75392-4-1 / 9

       McIntyre's testimony about his injuries supports a finding that he suffered

substantial bodily harm from Webb's assault, as opposed to substantial and

prolonged pain that caused considerable suffering. Therefore, the evidence at

trial, even when viewed in the light most favorable to Webb, was insufficient to

raise an inference that he committed assault in the third degree to the exclusion of

assault in the second degree. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion when it declined to instruct the jury on third degree assault.

                      Voluntary Intoxication Jury Instruction

       Webb argues that the trial court erred when it declined to give the jury his

requested instruction on voluntary intoxication. The State responds that the

instruction was inappropriate because Webb did not submit sufficient evidence to

establish that he was unable to acquire the requisite mental state for his offense.

We agree with the State.

       A defendant is entitled to have the trial court instruct the jury on his theory

of the case if evidence supports the theory. State v. Hughes, 106 Wn.2d 176, 191,

721 P.2d 902 (1986). The trial court must interpret the evidence in the record in

the light most favorable to the defendant when determining whether an instruction

is supported. State v. May, 100 Wn. App. 478, 482, 997 P.2d 956(2000).

       An instruction on voluntary intoxication allows the jury to consider whether

the defendant acted with the intent required by his charged offense based on the

evidence of intoxication at trial. State v. Thomas, 123 Wn. App. 771, 781,98 P.3d

1258 (2004). The trial court must provide the jury with a voluntary intoxication

instruction when "(1) the charged offense has a particular mens rea, (2) there is

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No. 75392-4-1 / 10

substantial evidence the defendant was drinking and/or using drugs, and (3) there

is evidence the drinking or drug use affected the defendant's ability to acquire the

required mental state." State v. Webb, 162 Wn. App. 195, 209, 252 P.3d 424

(2011).

      "[The evidence must reasonably and logically connect the defendant's

intoxication with the asserted inability to form the required level of culpability to

commit the crime charged." State v. Gabryschak, 83 Wn. App. 249, 252-53, 921

P.2d 549 (1996). "Evidence of drinking alone is insufficient to warrant the

instruction; instead,there must be 'substantial evidence of the effects of the alcohol

on the defendant's mind or body." Gabryschak, 83 Wn. App. at 253 (quoting

Safeco Ins. Co. v. McGrath,63 Wn. App. 170, 179, 817 P.2d 861 (1991)).

       Substantial evidence may include the defendant's testimony, testimony of

witnesses, objective evidence of intoxication, and actions of the police taken in

response to the defendant's intoxication following arrest. See,e.g., State v. Jones,

95 Wn.2d 616, 622, 628 P.2d 472(1981)(record contained substantial evidence

of defendant's voluntary intoxication, including defendant's testimony, witness

statements describing intoxicated appearance, and defendant's placement in

"drunk tank" at the police station following arrest); see also State v. Rice, 102

Wn.2d 120, 122-23, 683 P.2d 199 (1984)(record contained substantial evidence

of voluntary intoxication, including defendants' testimony that they had been

drinking all day and had ingested multiple Quaaludes, and results of Breathalyzer

tests following arrests); see also State v. Walters, 162 Wn. App. 74, 83, 255 P.3d

835(2011)(record contained substantial evidence of voluntary intoxication based

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No. 75392-4-1 /11

on defendant's physical manifestations of intoxication, including slurred speech,

droopy and bloodshot eyes, swaying back and forth, and lack of response to police

officer's use of pain compliance techniques).

       The trial court's decision to not give a requested jury instruction is reviewed

for an abuse of discretion. State v. Buzzell, 148 Wn. App. 592,602,200 P.3d 287

(2009).

       Here, Webb's charged offense of second degree assault required the State

to prove that he acted intentionally to recklessly inflict substantial bodily harm on

McIntyre. RCW 9A.36.021(1)(a). Webb relies on his own testimony that his

drinking affected his ability to think during his assault on McIntyre to argue that the

trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on voluntary intoxication. But Webb's

own testimony was not consistent on the issue of substantial intoxication. For

example, Webb also testified that, soon after McIntyre left the scene, he was able

to snap out of his intoxicated state, become aware of the situation, and flee from

police. Further, other witnesses to the altercation testified that Webb was not

exhibiting outward signs of significant intoxication, and Deputy Phillips was not

concerned enough about Webb's intoxication to order a breath test when Webb

was booked into jail.

       Thus, Webb's inconsistent testimony, unsupported by other evidence in the

record, is not substantial evidence of voluntary intoxication sufficient to prevent

him from forming the intent required for second degree assault. We conclude that

the trial court did not err when it declined to instruct the jury on voluntary

intoxication.

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                            Conflicting DNA Orders

      The parties agree that the trial court's order requiring Webb to submit to

DNA testing conflicts with Webb's judgment and sentence. At Webb's sentencing

hearing, the State and the trial court noted that Webb had already been DNA

tested, and thus further testing was not required. Webb's judgment and sentence

correctly reflects that Webb need not submit to DNA testing because the

Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory already has a sample from Webb.

Therefore, we remand so that the trial court may vacate the order requiring DNA

testing that conflicts with Webb's judgment and sentence.

      We remand for vacation of the order of the trial court requiring DNA testing,

and otherwise affirm.

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