Court Opinion

ID: 4493845
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-21 21:17:41.508535+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:36.630143
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                           DIVISION ONE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                      )      No. 79101-0-I
                                          )
                          Respondent,

                v.                        )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                          )
KYLE PHILLIP CRUMPTON,                    )
                                          )
                          Appellant.      )      FILED: January21, 2020

       PER CURIAM    —   Following Kyle Crumpton’s guilty plea to second degree

robbery, the Department of Licensing revoked his driver’s license based on the

trial court’s determination that he used a motor vehicle in the commission of the

crime and therefore violated RCW 46.20.285(4) (authorizing revocation for “[amy

felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used[.]”). Crumpton

appeals, arguing that while he did drive the getaway car, his use of the car was

only incidental to the robbery and therefore insufficient to support the revocation

of his license. We affirm.

                                        FACTS

       On May 1,2018, Timothy Vaivaimuli stole two boxes of shoes worth $140

from a Fred Meyer store and assaulted a Loss Prevention Officer as he fled. A
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surveillance video from the store showed a getaway vehicle conspicuously

parked right outside the store, initially blocking traffic, and then moving into a

handicapped parking stall before taking the robbery suspect away from the

scene.

         During an interview with detectives, Crumpton admitted that he and

Vaivaimuli planned the theft and that his role was to drive the getaway vehicle.

Crumpton ultimately pleaded guilty to second degree robbery, a Class B Felony.

His signed plea agreement states, “I understand that RCW 46.20.285(4) requires

that my driver’s license be revoked if the judge finds I used a motor vehicle in the

commission of this felony.”

         At sentencing, Crumpton’s counsel argued against revoking Crumpton’s

driver’s license, stating: “[T]he robbery had been committed by the point that this

car was used” and “the car was not used for the commission of the crime.             .

Counsel argued that “[t]he fact that Mr. Crumpton drove there and drove away

does make him an accomplice, but I think those two things are separate       .   .       .   from

the question of the license revocation.” Counsel asked the court to find that

Crumpton’s vehicle was not used in the commission of second degree robbery.

         The court ruled that Crumpton’s use of “the vehicle was directly related to

the crime” and was “consistent with what’s contemplated for the defendant using

the automobile in the commission of the crime” under RCW 46.20.285(4).

Crumpton appeals.

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No. 79101-0-1/3

                                            DECISION

       Crumpton contends the court erred in concluding that he used a motor

vehicle in the commission of a felony in violation of RCW 46.20.285 (4). We

review the application of a statute to specific facts de novo. State v. Hearn, 131
Wash. App. 601, 609, 128 P.3d 139 (2006).

       RCW 46.20.285(4) provides that the Department of Licensing “shall

revoke the license of any driver.   .   .   upon receiving a record of the driver’s

conviction” for “[amy felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.”

Although, RCW 46.20.285(4) does not define the term “use,” the court in State v.

Batten, 95 Wash. App. 127, 129-30, 974 P.2d 879 (1999) concluded that the plain

and ordinary meaning of the word requires that the vehicle was “employed in

accomplishing” the crime. Hearn, 131 Wash. App. at 609-10. A vehicle has been

“used” in a felony if the vehicle contributed in some reasonable degree to the

commission of the felony. State v. B.E.K., 141 Wash. App. 742, 746, 172 P.3d 365

(2007); Hearn, 131 Wash. App. at 610. RCW 46.20.285(4) does not require

revocation “when the vehicle was incidental to the commission of the crime.”

State v. Alcantar-Maldonado, 184 Wash. App. 215, 228, 340 P.3d 859 (2014).

      Citing Alcantar-Maldonado, Crumpton contends his use of the vehicle was

incidental to the robbery because he and Vaivaimuli could have bussed, biked, or

walked away from the crime scene. In Alcantar-Maldonado, the defendant drove

his car to his estranged wife’s residence, assaulted her boyfriend, and drove

away. The sentencing court instructed the Department of Licensing to revoke

Alcantar-Maldonado’s driver’s license under RCW 46.20.285(4). But Division

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Three of this court reversed, stating that Alcantar-Maldonado’s “use of the car

could be characterized as fortuitous or gratuitous in that Alcantar-Maldonado

could have ridden a bike or bus to his estranged wife’s home. The commission

of the felony did not entail operation of a motor vehicle.” Alcantar-Maldonado,
184 Wash. App. at 229. The court determined there must be “a more direct

connection between the use of the vehicle and the crime” than use of the vehicle

as transportation to and from the crime. Alcantar-Maldonado, 184 Wash. App. at

229.

       Unlike Alcantar-Maldonado, which involved an assault, the present case

involved a continuing offense   —   robbery   --   that lasts beyond the initial taking and

includes subsequent acts done to retain stolen property or impede the rightful

owner’s efforts to retrieve it. State v. Phillips, 9 Wash. App. 368, 376, 444 P.3d 51

(2019). “The taking is ongoing until the assailant has effected an escape[.]”

State v. Truong, 168 Wash. App. 529, 535—36, 277 P.3d 74 (2012). Significantly,

Crumpton’s use of the vehicle was an integral part of the robbery plan. In that

regard, video surveillance showed him positioning the car for an easy getaway in

case, as ended up happening, Vaivaimuli was pursued by store employees or

security. The car also provided an enclosed place for Vaivaimuli to quickly

conceal the shoe boxes from the eyes of security guards, store employees, or

police immediately after leaving the store. See State v. Batten, 140 Wash. 2d 362,

366, 997 P.2d 350 (2000) (fact that car provided place to store and conceal

unlawfully possessed weapon was sufficient use of vehicle under statute).

Contrary to Crumpton’s assertions, his operation of the getaway vehicle was not

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incidental to the robbery; rather, the vehicle was premeditatedly employed in, and

contributed “in some reasonable degree” to, the commission of the robbery. The

sentencing court correctly applied RCW 46.20.285(4).

      Affirmed.

                    FOR THE COURT:

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