Court Opinion

ID: 2748688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-06 17:13:19.515211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:26.976062
License: Public Domain

FILED 

                                                                      NOVEMBER 6, 2014 

                                                                   In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

                                                                 W A State Court of Appeals, Division III 

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

                               DIVISION THREE 

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                           )
                                               )         No. 31381-6-111
                     Respondent,               )
                                               )
       v.                                      )
                                               )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
LYNN MARIE ARNHOLD,                            )
                                               )
                     Appellant.                )

       SIDDOWAY, C.J.       Lynn Arnhold appeals her convictions of third degree assault

and resisting arrest, arguing that the State presented insufficient evidence to support the

convictions. Specifically, she argues the State did not prove she had the intent to assault

a police officer nor the intent to resist arrest. Because the State presented sufficient

evidence, we affmn the convictions.

                     FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       In August 2012, Twisp Police Officer Michael Hartnett arrested Lynn Arnhold

pursuant to a felony arrest warrant. In the process of the arrest, Ms. Arnhold allegedly bit

Officer Ty Sheehan. The State charged Ms. Arnhold with criminal trespass, resisting

arrest, and assault of a law enforcement officer.
No. 31381-6-III
State v. Arnhold

       At trial, Officer Hartnett testified that he received a call informing him that Ms.

Arnhold, who had a felony warrant out for her arrest, was at Horseshoe Trailer Park. He

traveled to the trailer park, where he found Ms. Arnhold inside the mobile home of the

trailer park manager, Janice Timbers. He immediately told Ms. Arnhold she was under

arrest. Ms. Arnhold answered that she would not allow him to arrest her and started

flailing her arms. Concerned the situation would escalate, Officer Hartnett grabbed one

of Ms. Arnhold's arms and pulled her out of the mobile home. After he pulled her

outside, she was still struggling to get away. By that time, Officer Sheehan arrived; he

removed his stun gun and placed it on Ms. Arnhold's shoulder, at which point she

stopped struggling.

       Officer Hartnett testified that he placed handcuffs on Ms. Arnhold and together he

and Officer Sheehan began to escort Ms. Arnhold to the patrol car. While walking down

the stairs from the porch, Officer Hartnett felt Ms. Arnhold lunge to the right;

simultaneously, Officer Hartnett heard Officer Sheehan exclaim "she bit me." Report of

Proceedings (RP) at 190. Officer Hartnett testified that a bruise in the shape of a

semicircle appeared on Officer Sheehan's bicep. He expressed his opinion that the bruise

was a result of a bite. The State produced three photographs of the bruise that were

admitted into evidence and published to the jury.

       Officer Sheehan testified to substantially the same events.

                                              2

No. 31381-6-III
State v. Arnhold

       Janice Timbers was also called as a witness by the State. She testified that "[Ms.

Arnhold] was not very cooperative" and "she was putting up a little fight." RP at 205.

       Ms. Arnhold testified in her defense. She explained she was aware there was a

warrant out for her arrest and she therefore complied with all of Officer Hartnett's

instructions. She testified that Officer Hartnett never told her she was under arrest;

rather, he immediately informed her she was resisting arrest. Finally, addressing her

interaction with Officer Sheehan, she testified she did not bite him nor would she have

been able to, because there was a stun gun on her jugular.

       The jury returned a verdict of guilty on the charges of assault and resisting arrest,

and a not guilty verdict on the criminal trespass count. Ms. Arnhold timely appealed.

                                        ANALYSIS

       Ms. Arnhold challenges the sufficiency of evidence to sustain her two convictions.

In each case, she challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to establish that she acted

with the requisite intent. We address these arguments in tum.

                                   I   Third degree assault

       Ms. Arnhold contends there is insufficient evidence to sustain her conviction for

the third degree assault of Officer Sheehan. Specifically, she contends the State failed to

prove she intended to assault him. "A person is guilty of assault in the third degree if he

or she ... [a]ssaults a law enforcement officer or other employee of a law enforcement

agency who was performing his or her official duties at the time ofthe assault." RCW

                                              3

No. 31381-6-111
State v. Arnhold

9A.36.031(1)(g). Intent is implied as an element of third degree assault. State v. Tunney,

129 Wn.2d 336,341,917 P.2d 95 (1996). "A person acts with intent or intentionally

when he or she acts with the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes

a crime." RCW 9A.08.010(1)(a).

       A jury may infer that a defendant acted with intent even when there is no direct

evidence. State v. Bea, 162 Wash. App. 570, 579,254 P.3d 948 (2011) (citing State v.

Caliguri, 99 Wash. 2d 501, 506, 664 P.2d 466 (1983)). "A jury may infer criminal intent

from a defendant's conduct where it is plainly indicated as a matter of logical probability.

This includes inferring or permissibly presuming that a defendant intends the natural and

probable consequences of his or her acts." Id. (citations omitted).

       In determining whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain Ms. Arnhold's

conviction, this court must decide whether "after viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt." State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d 192,201,829 P.2d 1068 (1992). A claim

of insufficient evidence admits the truth of the State's evidence as well as the truth of all

reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. Id. It is for the fact finder to determine the

credibility of witnesses and the persuasiveness of evidence. In re Disciplinary

Proceeding Against Kuvara, 97 Wn.2d 743,747,649 P.2d 834 (1982).

       At trial, the jury was presented with Officer Sheehan's testimony that Ms. Arnhold

bit him and Officer Hartnett's testimony that as the officers escorted Ms. Arnhold to the

                                              4

No. 31381-6-111
State v. Arnhold

patrol car, he felt her body sway toward Officer Sheehan and then heard Officer Sheehan

exclaim that she had bit him. Both officers testified to their observations of the resulting

bruise and three photographs of Officer Sheehan's arm were admitted into evidence.

Although Ms. Arnhold denied biting Officer Sheehan, it is for the fact finder to decide

what weight and credibility to assign witness testimony. Id.

       Substantial evidence permitted the jury to infer Ms. Arnhold intended to bite

Officer Sheehan.

                                      IL Resisting arrest

       Ms. Arnhold next contends there was insufficient evidence to convict her of

resisting arrest. A person is guilty of resisting arrest in violation ofRCW 9A.76.040(1)

"ifhe or she intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from lawfully

arresting him or her." Again, "[a] person acts ... intentionally when he or she acts with

the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes a crime," RCW

9A.08.01O(1)(a), and the jury can infer intent. The same standard of review applies.

       Three witnesses testified to a struggle between Ms. Arnhold and Officer Hartnett.

Officer Hartnett described Ms. Arnhold physically resisting, "actively pulling away," and

refusing to comply with his instructions. RP at 188-90. Ms. Timbers said Ms. Arnhold

"was putting up a little fight." RP at 205. Officer Sheehan observed Ms. Arnhold

"struggling, resisting, basically trying to pull away from Officer Hartnett." RP at 214.

                                             5

No. 31381-6-II1
State v. Arnhold

Here again, there was sufficient evidence' from which the jury could infer Ms. Arnhold's

intent to resist arrest.

       Affirmed.

       A majority of the panel has determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

WE CONCUR: 

Brown, 1.

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