Court Opinion

ID: 987206
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:00:45.167541+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:41.932451
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                               No. 68418-3-1                        .-A>-j.'..

                    Respondent,
                                                                                          '&.
                                               DIVISION ONE
             v.

                                               UNPUBLISHED OPINION                           U"   . ' •

RANDY ROJELIO PEREZ CHAPARRO,                                                      •&

                   Appellant.                  FILED: June 10, 2013

      Grosse, J. —A claim of insufficiency of the evidence requires an appellate court

to review the evidence to determine whether any rational trier of fact could find each

element of the crime was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Whether or not unlawful

imprisonment was incidental to a separately charged offense is not an element of

unlawful imprisonment and is thus immaterial where, as here, there is sufficient

evidence to support the defendant's conviction for unlawful imprisonment.

      Randy Chaparro and Najae Stevenson had a relationship which became strained

when Chaparro found out Stevenson was pregnant with his child.          Stevenson was

staying with Chaparro at the home of Chaparro's parents. In August 2011, an argument

erupted between the couple when Stevenson became angry that Chaparro was going
back out again after just returning home from work. As the verbal altercation escalated,

Chaparro struck Stevenson in the stomach with an open palm causing Stevenson to fall
back on the bed. Stevenson went to the bathroom to straighten her hair, but became

more frustrated and again verbally confronted Chaparro, this time about striking her.

Chaparro and Stevenson physically became entangled and they both fell to the floor.
Chaparro landed on top of Stevenson. Chaparro pinned Stevenson down and placed a
pillow over her face, telling her to "shut up and stuff." The pillow covering her face
No. 68418-3-1/2

made it difficult to breath for three or four seconds. Stevenson managed to extricate

herself and went to the bathroom where she called her mother. Chaparro kicked the

bathroom door, which hit Stevenson as it swung open. Stevenson was sitting on the

bathroom floor. Chaparro kicked her in the shin and told her to shut up.

      When Chaparro left the bathroom, Stevenson went to the bedroom to get her

belongings and started to go downstairs. Chaparro hit Stevenson on the back of the

head as she was going down the stairs. When Stevenson told Chaparro that she was

going to call the police, Chaparro again went after her and tackled her. Chaparro was

on top of Stevenson, pinning her down, telling her that if she called the cops he would

kill her. Chaparro released her and Stevenson again called her mom who told her that

she should call the police if Chaparro had hurt her.

         Stevenson left the house and called 911 about the incident. The police arrived

and found Stevenson visibly upset and shaken. The left side of her face was swollen

and she had a scratch under her eye.

         The police arrested Chaparro, who told them that the two had had an argument

and that he placed Stevenson in a "bear hug" and tried to quiet her down by holding her

tight against his collar bone and neck. Chaparro testified that Stevenson accused him

of not loving her anymore. He grabbed her by the head and told her he was sorry for

cheating on her.     Chaparro denied hitting Stevenson or placing anything over her

mouth.     He testified that when he tried to leave the house, Stevenson grabbed her

purse and stormed down the stairs threatening to kill herself. Chaparro said Stevenson

pulled her hair with both hands and hit herself two or three times in the face and then

fell down. Chaparro told Stevenson to get out of the house.
No. 68418-3-1/3

      The State charged Chaparro with felony harassment, second degree assault,

and unlawful imprisonment. A jury found Chaparro guilty of unlawful imprisonment and

attempted second degree assault. He was not convicted of the harassment charge.

Chaparro appeals.

      The State must prove each essential element of a charged crime beyond a

reasonable doubt.1 Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if, viewed in the light

most favorable to the State, it permits any rational trier of fact to find the essential

elements ofthe crime beyond a reasonable doubt.2 "A claim of insufficiency admits the
truth of the State's evidence and all inferences that reasonably can be drawn

therefrom."3 Matters pertaining to credibility of witnesses, conflicting testimony, and
persuasiveness of the evidence are the exclusive province of the fact finder.4
      A person commits unlawful imprisonment if he or she knowingly restrains another

person. RCW 9A.40.040(1).       "Restrain" means "to restrict a person's movements

without consent and without legal authority in a manner which interferes substantially

with his or her liberty."   RCW 9A.40.010(6).     "Restraint is 'without consent' if it is

accomplished by . . . physical force, intimidation, or deception." RCW9A.40.010(6).

       Nonetheless, Chaparro argues there was insufficient evidence to support his

unlawful imprisonment conviction. Specifically, he contends the unlawful imprisonment

was incidental to the assault, and therefore not supported by facts sufficient for a

separate conviction for unlawful imprisonment. Chaparro does not argue that there was
no restraint, only that the restraint was incidental to the assault. We recently heard

1 State v. Oster, 147 Wn.2d 141, 146, 52 P.3d 26 (2002).
2 State v. Salinas. 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
3 Salinas. 119 Wn.2d at 201.
4 State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821, 874-75, 83 P.2d 970 (2004).
                                            3
No. 68418-3-1/4

similar arguments in State v. Phuonq5 and rejected them. In Phuong. this court held
that due process allowed for a conviction for unlawful imprisonment when restraint was

merely incidental to another charged offense. Phuonq rejected the same argument that

is being made here when it declined to reverse Phuong's conviction for unlawful

imprisonment because it was incidental to the commission of the attempted rape. As

noted in Phuonq, the legislature did not require as an element of unlawful imprisonment

that the restraint be "not incidental" to another offense.6 The facts here, when viewed

favorably to the State, demonstrate that Stevenson was unlawfully restrained. Because

there is sufficient evidence to support the unlawful imprisonment, we affirm the trial

court.

         Chaparro next argues that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of prior

assaults. At trial, the court admitted evidence of two other violent incidents that had

occurred during the parties' relationship. The first occurred on a bus when Stevenson

expressed her disapproval of a conversation demeaning women that Chaparro was

having with a friend. When Stevenson tried to get up to leave, Chaparro choked her.
Another instance of violence occurred when Chaparro punched Stevenson, giving her a

black eye. Stevenson did not report these incidents to the police.

         A decision to admit evidence under ER 404(b) is reviewed for abuse of

discretion. A trial court abuses its discretion if it exercises its discretion on untenable

grounds or for untenable reasons.7 The trial court admitted the evidence (1) because of
"the reasonableness of [Stevenson's] fear in the face of [an] alleged threat to kill her"
and (2) "to assist the jury in judging her credibility."

     .Wn. App.       , 299 P.3d 37 (2013).
6 299 P.2d at 42.
7 State v. Fualaau. 155 Wn. App. 347, 356-57, 228 P.3d 771, rev, denied, 169 Wn.2d
1023, 238 P.3d 503 (2010).
                                                4
No. 68418-3-1/5

      Chaparro was charged with harassment.            A victim's reasonable fear is an

element of felony harassment and is relevant. Prior violent acts are admissible to prove

the reasonableness of the victim's fear.8

      The second reason proffered by the court also supports the admission of the

evidence. Admission of prior incidents of violence in domestic violence cases has been

upheld where the credibility ofa witness is at issue.9 As noted in State v. Baker,10
      victims of domestic violence often attempt to placate their abusers in an
      effort to avoid repeated violence, and often minimize the degree of
      violence when discussing it with others. . . . [The victim's] credibility was
      a central issue at trial. The jury was entitled to evaluate her credibility with
      full knowledge of the dynamics of a relationship marked by domestic
      violence and the effect such a relationship has on the victim.

       Because there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court's determination

that the prior acts were relevant to the material issue of reasonable fear, and that their

probative value outweighed any prejudicial effect, the trial court exercised sound

discretion in admitting the evidence under ER 404(b).              We affirm Chaparro's

convictions.

WE CONCUR:

8 In re Detention of Danforth, 173 Wn.2d 59, 86-87, 264 P.3d 783 (2011) (citing State v.
Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d 36, 41, 84 P.3d 1215 (2004)); State v. Maqers, 164 Wn.2d 174,
181-83, 189 P.3d 126 (2008); see also State v. Raqin. 94 Wn. App. 407, 409-12, 972
P.2d 519 (1999) (where defendant threatened victim, the reasonableness of his fear can
be proven by evidence of prior bad acts).
9 Maqers. 164 Wn.2d at 186.
10 162 Wn. App. 468, 475, 259 P.3d 270, rev, denied, 173 Wn.2d 1004, 268 P.3d 942
(2011) (quoting State v. Grant, 83 Wn. App. 98, 107-08, 920 P.2d 609 (1996)).