Court Opinion

ID: 2832909
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-01 22:07:49.814655+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:56:17.812940
License: Public Domain

September 1 2015

                                          DA 13-0727
                                                                                          Case Number: DA 13-0727

                 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

                                         2015 MT 260N

STATE OF MONTANA,

              Plaintiff and Appellee,

         v.

CURTIS WAYNE STANLEY,

              Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM:           District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
                       In and For the County of Cascade, Cause No. CDC-12-491
                       Honorable Kenneth R. Neill, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

                For Appellant:

                       Wade Zolynski, Chief Appellate Defender, Gregory Hood, Assistant
                       Appellate Defender; Helena, Montana

                For Appellee:

                       Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, Tammy K. Plubell, Assistant
                       Attorney General; Helena, Montana

                       John Parker, Cascade County Attorney, Marvin Anderson, Deputy County
                       Attorney; Great Falls, Montana

                                                   Submitted on Briefs: July 29, 2015
                                                              Decided: September 1, 2015

Filed:

                       __________________________________________
                                         Clerk
Justice James Jeremiah Shea delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating

Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not

serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this

Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana

Reports.

¶2     On September 4, 2013, Curtis Stanley was convicted in the Eighth Judicial District

Court, Cascade County, of two counts of felony assault with a weapon. The charges

arose from an incident where Stanley brandished a baseball bat from which nails

protruded at law enforcement officers who were assisting in executing a default judgment

for possession against Stanley’s then-girlfriend, Robyn Swan. On appeal, Stanley argues

that the District Court abused its discretion in denying his proposed jury instruction on

justifiable use of force and excluding evidence of an agreement between Swan’s landlord,

Dan Woods, and the Salvation Army to pay Swan’s current month and delinquent rent

due. We affirm.

¶3     On October 24, 2012, the District Court issued a default judgment for possession,

ordering Swan to vacate her apartment by November 2, 2012. If Swan did not comply,

the judgment provided that Woods “may take possession of the premises by reasonable

means” and arrange for a law enforcement officer “to stand by and keep the peace.” On

November 2, 2012, Woods signed a Salvation Army Landlord Rental/Mortgage

Acceptance Form (Salvation Army Agreement), agreeing “to accept funding from the

Salvation Army for payment” of Swan’s current month and delinquent rent due.

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¶4    On November 15, 2012, Woods asked the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office for

assistance in enforcing the default judgment for possession. At that time, Woods had not

informed the court or law enforcement officers of the Salvation Army Agreement, and

the court had not set aside the October 24, 2012 default judgment for possession. Deputy

Grove accompanied Woods to Swan’s apartment, knocked on the door, and identified

himself as a sheriff’s deputy. Deputy Grove was dressed in his uniform, which includes a

Kevlar bulletproof vest with an embroidered badge displayed on the chest. He also

carried a radio, a handgun, extra magazines for the handgun, and handcuffs. Woods and

Deputy Grove both testified that, after Deputy Grove knocked for several minutes,

Stanley peered out of a window on the apartment door. Deputy Grove testified that he

again identified himself as a deputy sheriff and asked Stanley, who was face-to-face with

him, to open the door so that they could talk. Stanley covered the door window with a

towel or blanket and did not open the door. Woods and Deputy Grove both testified that

Deputy Grove’s badge was visible when Stanley looked out of the door window.

¶5    When Stanley refused to open the door after looking out of the window, Deputy

Grove requested backup assistance from another officer, Deputy Prater. Deputy Grove

continued to knock on the door and identify himself for another forty minutes until

Deputy Prater arrived, also in uniform. Deputy Grove testified that he called for backup

for safety reasons because he could not see into the apartment and was unsure how many

people were inside or if there were any weapons. While waiting for Deputy Prater to

arrive, Woods called a locksmith, who was unable to successfully pick the lock.

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Eventually, the property manager arrived with a spare key, which Deputy Grove used to

unlock the door.

¶6    When Deputy Grove attempted to open the door, he discovered that Stanley had

propped a chair under the door handle to block entry into the apartment. Deputy Grove

forced the door open and entered the apartment with his gun drawn, followed by Deputy

Prater. Deputy Grove continued to announce himself as law enforcement. After Deputy

Grove took about five steps into the apartment, Stanley rushed at him from a hallway,

brandishing a baseball bat from which nails protruded. The deputies drew their guns on

Stanley and ordered him to stop. Stanley was about five or six feet away from Deputy

Grove when he eventually stopped. Deputy Grove testified that, before Stanley dropped

the bat, he yelled, “[W]ho the fuck are you, what are you doing in my house?” Deputy

Grove said he was afraid that, if Stanley came any closer, Stanley would cause serious

harm to him or Deputy Prater. According to Deputy Grove, the time period between

when he arrived on scene and when he finally was able to gain access to the apartment

was “well over an hour.”

¶7    At trial, Stanley argued that he did not know that the individuals entering his home

were police officers due to a hearing impairment and the fact that the home recently

was burglarized.   Stanley’s grandmother and Swan both testified that Stanley is

hearing-impaired, and Stanley’s grandmother testified that Stanley did not have hearing

aids during the incident. Swan testified that Stanley can read lips. Swan also testified

that the apartment was broken into about one week before the November 15 incident.

Swan was not at the apartment during the November 15 incident. She said that she called

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Stanley to tell him he should open the door after a neighbor informed her that the

deputies were outside of the apartment. Swan testified that she was unsure if Stanley

understood her when she called him.

¶8     Before trial, the State of Montana filed two motions in limine: one to exclude all

evidence regarding the Salvation Army Agreement, and the other to prohibit Stanley

from arguing justifiable use of force without laying a proper foundation. Stanley opposed

both motions. After a pre-trial hearing on the motions, the District Court granted the

State’s motion to exclude evidence of the Salvation Army Agreement, determining that

the deputies’ entry into Swan’s apartment was lawful under the default judgment for

possession. After hearing evidence presented at trial, the District Court also granted the

State’s motion on Stanley’s justifiable-use-of-force defense, and denied Stanley’s

requested jury instructions on justifiable use of force. Stanley contends that these rulings

violated his due-process rights.

¶9     We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s evidentiary rulings and

formulation of jury instructions.      State v. Daniels, 2011 MT 278, ¶¶ 11, 38,

362 Mont. 426, 265 P.3d 623.       A district court abuses its discretion when it “acts

arbitrarily without the employment of conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of

reason, resulting in substantial injustice.”       State v. Derbyshire, 2009 MT 27, ¶ 19,

349 Mont. 114, 201 P.3d 811.       “[T]o the extent the court’s ruling is based on an

interpretation of an evidentiary rule or statute, our review is de novo.” Daniels, ¶ 11

(quoting Derbyshire, ¶ 19).

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¶10    Section 45-5-213(1), MCA, provides, “A person commits the offense of assault

with a weapon if the person purposely or knowingly causes: (a) bodily injury to another

with a weapon; or (b) reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury in another by use

of a weapon or what reasonably appears to be a weapon.” In defending against a charge

of assault with a weapon, a defendant may avail himself of the affirmative defense of

justifiable use of force when he “admits the doing of the act charged, but seeks to justify,

excuse or mitigate it.” State v. King, 2013 MT 139, ¶ 26, 370 Mont. 277, 304 P.3d 1

(quoting Daniels, ¶ 15). However, “[a] district court must only instruct the jury on

theories and issues that are supported by evidence presented at trial.” King, ¶ 25 (citing

Daniels, ¶ 42).

¶11    Stanley admitted to charging at the officers with a weapon and requested jury

instructions on justifiable use of force in defense of a person, § 45-3-102, MCA,1 and

justifiable use of force in defense of an occupied structure, § 45-3-103, MCA. Under

§ 45-3-103(1), MCA, “A person is justified in the use of force or threat to use force

against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the use of

force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person’s unlawful entry into or attack

upon an occupied structure.” Under § 45-3-102, MCA, “A person is justified in the use

of force or threat to use force against another when and to the extent that the person

reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary for self-defense . . . against the other

person’s imminent use of unlawful force.” At trial, Stanley conceded that a lawful entry

1
  All statutory references are to the 2011 version of the Montana Code Annotated unless
otherwise noted.

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would preclude the affirmative defense of justifiable use of force in defense of an

occupied structure.    See also Daniels, ¶ 41 (holding that an unlawful entry is a

prerequisite to arguing justifiable use of force in defense of an occupied structure) (citing

State v. Hagen, 273 Mont. 432, 440, 903 P.2d 1381, 1386 (1995)); State v. Sorenson,

190 Mont. 155, 170, 619 P.2d 1185, 1194 (1980) (“[Section 45-3-103, MCA,] has no

application to a lawful entry into premises.”). Like § 45-3-103, MCA, the plain language

of justifiable use of force in defense of a person, § 45-3-102, MCA, also contains a

prerequisite of preeminent unlawful action.

¶12    The District Court determined that Stanley could not avail himself of the

affirmative defense of justifiable use of force because the deputies’ entry into the

apartment and actions to avoid a breach of the peace were lawful. In reaching this

conclusion, the District Court determined that the deputies reasonably relied on the

October 24 default judgment for possession, which the court did not rescind before the

events of November 15, and that the deputies had no knowledge of the Salvation Army

Agreement.

¶13    Stanley argues that the deputies’ entry into the apartment was unlawful because

the Salvation Army Agreement superseded the default possession document. At trial,

Stanley conceded that the law enforcement officers were in possession of a lawful order

but “were in effect duped by the landlord who should have gone back to court.” Under

the default judgment for possession, Woods was required to file a notice of satisfaction of

judgment with the court once Swan paid the judgment in full, and failure to do so could

result in civil liability. Woods never informed the court or the deputies of the Salvation

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Army Agreement, and the court did not set aside the default judgment for possession

before the events of November 15. While Woods’ alleged failure to comply with the

judgment may have resulted in civil liability,2 it does not support a finding that the

deputies’ use of force in entering the apartment pursuant to a legal document was

unlawful. Accordingly, the Salvation Army Agreement does not support Stanley’s claim

for justifiable use of force, and the District Court did not abuse its discretion in excluding

it from trial.

¶14    The default judgment for possession stated that Woods “may take possession of

the premises by reasonable means,” and that he could request law enforcement officers to

accompany him to “keep the peace.” Under the judgment, Woods’ action in entering the

apartment with law enforcement clearly was lawful. Stanley did not produce evidence to

the contrary at trial. The District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Stanley’s

requested jury instruction on justifiable use of force in defense of an occupied building.

¶15    The District Court also determined that the record did not support a jury

instruction on justifiable use of force in defense of a person. The court recognized that a

person could lawfully enter an occupied structure and then use unlawful force. However,

the court determined that Stanley did not develop the factual foundation required to argue

2
  The District Court noted that Swan did pursue a civil remedy against Woods. However, it is
unclear that Woods even violated the default possession document. The Salvation Army
Agreement provided that “any late fees and deposits are the responsibility of the tenant and must
be paid for, with a receipt provided,” before the Salvation Army would issue a check for the rent.
The form further indicated that the Salvation Army would not process and send a rental check
until it received a rental voucher signed by Woods, Swan, and a Salvation Army clerk. In
addition to the back rent that the Salvation Army agreed to pay, Woods was seeking unpaid rent,
late fees, and court costs. The record does not show that Swan paid those fees or that the
Salvation Army received a signed voucher or processed a check before the November 15
incident.

                                                8
the affirmative defense, concluding that Stanley “really isn’t relying on justifiable use of

force.” See King, ¶ 24 (upholding a district court decision that, for a defendant to avail

himself of a self-defense claim against a charge of deliberate homicide, there must be

“sufficient facts in the record” to find that, although the defendant “purposely or

knowingly caused the death of another he was justified in doing so because he reasonably

believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or serious

bodily harm to himself”); State v. Logan, 156 Mont. 48, 65, 473 P.2d 833, 842 (1970)

(holding that a defendant must lay a foundation before admitting testimony on

self-defense).

¶16    Throughout the trial, the State argued that the deputies were lawfully carrying out

their duties under a lawful court order.          Although Stanley argues that the default

judgment for possession “did not allow or direct officers to forcefully enter the

premises,” Deputy Grove testified that he entered the apartment with his gun drawn for

safety concerns because he could not see into the apartment and did not know how many

people were inside or if there were any weapons. Deputy Grove further testified that he

drew his gun on Stanley because he was afraid that Stanley could seriously harm him or

Deputy Prater. These actions are within the scope of “keep[ing] the peace” under the

default judgment for possession. A review of the record shows no evidence that the

deputies’ actions of drawing their guns on Stanley when he charged at them with the

baseball bat were unlawful. The District Court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to

instruct the jury on justifiable use of force in defense of a person.

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¶17    We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of

our Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. In the opinion

of the Court, the case presents a question controlled by settled law or by the clear

application of applicable standards of review.      The District Court did not abuse its

discretion in excluding evidence of the Salvation Army Agreement and denying jury

instructions on justifiable use of force in defense of an occupied structure and justifiable

use of force in defense of a person.

¶18    Affirmed.

                                                 /S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA

We Concur:

/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ BETH BAKER
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ JIM RICE

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