Court Opinion

ID: 987200
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:00:43.117711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:46.595886
License: Public Domain

Fit, ED
                                                                                  Coun
                                                                                            OF
                                                                                       DJVIS10
                                                                                2013 UU11 I 1
                                                                                                 A 10. 40
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W
                                                                                            W   SIM` T014
                                           DIVISION II
                                                                                        0       Ty
STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                             No. 43251 0 II
                                                                           - -

                             Respondent,

       V.

ANTHONY W. GEORGE, JR.,                                      UNPUBLISHED OPINION

       PENOYAR, J.-
                 Anthony William George, Jr.,
                                            appeals his conviction for possession of a

stolen motor vehicle, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. He

raises an additional issue in a Statement of Additional Grounds (SAG).We affirm.'
                                                  FACTS

       In early November, Hircias Duarte, a baker for Heavenly Donuts, parked his white

delivery van behind the business. He went inside, leaving the van unlocked with the keys in the

ignition. When he went back outside, he could not the van. He reported the van stolen.

       On November 6, George drove a white van to the property of Melvin Fagerness and his

son, Robin Fagerness: Robin recognized George as the son of a friend. George asked if he could

stop to roll a cigarette and Melvin showed him where to park the van. At some point, George
left with the van.

       Late the next day, Robin observed what he thought was the same van parked on the

property behind a fifth wheel trailer that Robin occupied with his fiancee, Juanita Winter. The

van was unoccupied. Winter and Robin went to bed and Winter heard doors opening and closing

 A commissioner of this court initially considered this appeal as a motion on the merits under
RAP 18. 4 and then referred it to
      1                             a   panel   of judges.
43251 0 II
      - -

several times followed       by     loud bang." Report of Proceedings (RP) at 98. She called the
                                  a "

police.

          Deputy Sheriff     James       Esslinger responded   at   about 9   P. .
                                                                               M     He observed that the

Fagerness property was a large lot containing a residence, several outbuildings, and a fifth wheel

trailer. He saw a white van parked next to the trailer. He checked the van's hood and it felt

warm. He looked in the van's windows and saw the keys in the ignition and a sleeping bag and

some gas cans in the back.

          He reported the van's license plate number to dispatch and dispatch advised him that the

van was reported stolen. He asked dispatch to confirm and walked around the property while he

waited for   a   response.   He looked in all of the outbuildings but did not see anyone. He then

noticed a person "hiding"behind the fifth wheel trailer "tucked in close to the trailer, down on

the   ground." RP     at 59 60.
                            -           Esslinger spoke to the man and he identified himself as George.

Esslinger asked George what he was doing behind the trailer and he responded that he was

trying to clear his head, thinking about his girlfriend."RP at 61. Esslinger asked him about the

van and he stated that his girlfriend was driving the van " nd he had to jump from it." at 61.
                                                          a                           RP

He then instead stated that his sister drove the van. Esslinger arrested George.

          The State charged George with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and a jury convicted

him. RCW 9A. 6.He appeals his conviction.
         068(
            1
            5 ).

                                                   ANALYSIS

          George argues that the State presented insufficient evidence that he " knowingly.

possessed"a stolen vehicle. Br. of Appellant at 3.

                                                         2
43251 0 II
      - -

I.     STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Evidence is legally sufficient to support a guilty verdict if any rational trier of fact,

viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, could find the elements of the

charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Longshore, 141 Wn. d 414, 420 21, 5 P. d
                                                                   2            -      3

1256 (2000). We interpret all reasonable inferences in the State's favor. State v. Hosier, 157

Wn. d 1, 8, 133 P. d 936 (2006). Direct and circumstantial evidence carry the same weight.
  2              3

State v. Varga, 151 Wn. d 179, 201, 86 P. d 139 (2004).Credibility determinations are for the
                      2                 3

trier of fact and are not subject to review. State v. Cantu, 156 Wn. d 819, 831, 132 P. d 725
                                                                   2                  3

2006).

H.     SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE TRIAL COURT'S VERDICT

                                  2
       Under RCW    9A. 6. and
                    069(
                       1
                       5 )                 RCW 9A. 6. State was required to provide
                                               140(
                                                  1 the
                                                  5 ),

beyond a reasonable doubt that George "knowingly possessed a stolen motor vehicle."The fact

finder may infer knowledge if " reasonable person would have knowledge under similar
                              a

circumstances." State v. Womble, 93 Wn. App. 599, 604, 969 P. d 1097 (1999)citing State v.
                                                            2               (

Shipp, 93 Wn. d 510, 516, 610 P. d 1322 (1980)).
            2                  2

2
    RCW 9A. 6.
        068(
           1 provides:
           5 )
       A person is guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle if he or she possess
       possesses] a stolen motor vehicle.

3 RCW 9A. 6.
      140(
         1 provides:
         5 )
       Possessing stolen property" means knowingly to receive, retain, possess,
       conceal, or dispose of stolen property knowing that it has been stolen and to
       withhold or appropriate the same to the use of any person other than the true
       owner or person entitled thereto.
                                               3
43251 0 II
      - -

       Mere possession of recently stolen property is insufficient to establish that the possessor

knew the property was stolen. State v. Couet, 71 Wn. d 773, 775, 430 P. d 974 (1967);
                                                   2                  2             State v.

Hatch, 4 Wn. App. 691, 694, 483 P. d 864 (1971).But possession of recently stolen property,
                                 2

coupled with " light corroborative evidence," sufficient to prove knowledge. Womble, 93 Wn.
             s                              is

App. at 604 (internal quotation marks omitted) quoting Couet, 77 Wn. d at 776).Corroborative
                                               (                   2

evidence includes "a dubious account concerning its acquisition." Hatch, 4 Wn. App. at 694

quoting   4 C. NICHOLS, APPLIED      EVIDENCE, POSSESSION           OF    STOLEN PROPERTY §       29 at 3664

1928)).

       Evidence of George's changing story as to who drove the van, his evasive behavior, and

his questionable,,
                 explanation as to why he was crouching behind the fifth wheel trailer after dark

constitutes sufficient corroborative evidence to support the jury's finding that George knew the

vehicle was stolen. See State v. L. ., Wn. App. 275, 276, 918 P. d 173 (1996). Thus, the
                                  A 82                         2

State presented sufficient evidence to support the conviction..

III.   STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS

       In his SAG, George argues that the trial court improperly admitted Esslinger's testimony

that he was hiding when Esslinger found him. He asserts that prior to trial, Esslinger reported

that he found George sitting next to the trailer smoking a cigarette but at trial he instead testified.

that George was "hiding"behind the fifth wheel trailer " o make it look as though I knew the van
                                                       t

was stolen."SAG at 1.

        George's attorney objected to Esslinger's use of the term "hiding"as argumentative but

the trial court overruled the objection and suggested that the subject be "inquired into on cross-

examination." RP at 59.       During cross -examination, Esslinger acknowledged that his initial

report stated only that George       sitting
                                 was "         on   the   ground   and   leaning ...   against the fifth wheel."
                                                      4
43251 0 II
      - -

RP at 71. On redirect, Esslinger explained that " could not tell you if he] was on his buttocks
                                                I                       [

or on his knees. I just know he was down low and leaning up against the trailer down into the

fifth wheel where the wheels were at." at 71 72. Inconsistencies in witness testimony are
                                      RP     -

not grounds for reversal because credibility is a jury determination. State v. Mullins, 158 Wn.

App. 360, 373, 241 P. d 456 (2010),
                    3             review denied, 171 Wn. d 1006 (2011) citing Stiley v.
                                                       2               (

                                           And "[
Block, 130 Wn. d 486, 925 P. d 194 ( 1996)).
             2             2                    c]redibility determinations cannot be

reviewed on appeal."State v. Camarillo, 115.Wn. d 60, 71, 794 P. d 850 (1990).
                                              2                2

       We affirm

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

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
 0

We concur:

       Quinn-
            Brintnall, J.

                J.
       Kgen,

                                               5