Court Opinion

ID: 9627853
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:57:09.80267+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:45:15.943393
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.
I dissent. The kind of culpability required for theft by welfare fraud is "knowledge." State v. Wallace, 97 Wn.2d 846, 849-50, 651 P.2d 201 (1982). The definition of "knowledge" comporting with RCW 9A.08.010(l)(b) was given in instruction 4.
*654An additional element of theft by welfare fraud required by State v. Sass, 94 Wn.2d 721, 620 P.2d 79 (1980) and instruction 7 is intent to deprive. Tyler did not request an instruction defining intent or object to the trial court's not submitting such an instruction. State v. Allen, 101 Wn.2d 355, 362, 678 P.2d 798 (1984), relied upon by the majority, concludes:
An instruction, when requested, defining intent in the words of RCW 9A.08.010(l)(a), is required when intent is an element of the crime charged.
(Italics mine.)
I believe the jury was suitably instructed, in language commonly understood, on the kind of culpability involved and the judgment should be affirmed.