Court Opinion

ID: 4247295
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-22 17:11:05.623509+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:58.784700
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                       Docket No. 44633

STATE OF IDAHO,                                 ) 2018 Opinion No. 6
                                                )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                    ) Filed: February 22, 2018
                                                )
v.                                              ) Karel A. Lehrman, Clerk
                                                )
JOSEPH ROMAN RUBIO,                             )
                                                )
       Defendant-Appellant.                     )
                                                )

       Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho,
       Kootenai County. Hon. Cynthia K. C. Meyer, District Judge.

       Judgment of conviction for filing a false instrument, vacated and case remanded.

       Eric D. Fredericksen, State Appellate Public Defender; Reed P. Anderson, Deputy
       Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

       Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Theodore S. Tollefson, Deputy
       Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
                 ________________________________________________

GUTIERREZ, Judge
       Joseph Roman Rubio appeals from his judgment of conviction entered after a jury found
him guilty of filing a false instrument. In essence, Rubio, a probationer, argues his conduct of
submitting an allegedly falsified community service time card with the community service office
does not fall within the ambit of Idaho Code § 18-3203. For the reasons set forth below, we
vacate the judgment of conviction and remand to the district court.
                                                I.
                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       The terms and conditions of Rubio’s probation required him to complete fifty-six hours
of community service at a local thrift store. Rubio, as instructed, submitted a community service
time card (“time card”) containing the requisite hours to the community service desk. The State,
suspecting the time card falsely reported hours, charged Rubio with filing a false instrument in

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violation of I.C. § 18-3203, rather than filing a probation violation. Idaho Code § 18-3203
provides:
               Every person who knowingly procures or offers any false or forged
       instrument to be filed, registered or recorded in any public office within this state,
       which instrument, if genuine, might be filed, or registered, or recorded under any
       law of this state, or of the United States, is guilty of a felony.
At his preliminary hearing, Rubio argued the complaint was invalid because it failed to charge a
crime cognizable within the state.      The magistrate acknowledged there were issues as to
undefined terms, such as what is meant by “instrument filed.” Nevertheless, the magistrate
found probable cause and bound Rubio over to the district court. 1
       Rubio filed a motion to dismiss, again arguing his conduct did not fall within the purview
of the statute. Rubio argued the time card did not meet the statutory definition of an instrument
nor did any law provide that it be filed, registered, or recorded. The district court denied the
motion, ruling Rubio’s time card met the statutory definition of an instrument because Rubio had
a duty or liability to perform and report his community service hours pursuant to court order.
       Rubio proceeded to trial. After the State’s case-in-chief, Rubio moved for judgment of
acquittal pursuant to Idaho Criminal Rule 29, arguing that the State failed to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt: (1) that the time card was an “instrument”; (2) that the time card was false or
forged; (3) that the community service office was a “public office”; (4) that the time card was
filed under any federal or state law; and (5) that the time card was actually filed. The State
responded that whether a time card was an instrument and whether a community service desk
was a public office were legal matters for the jury to be instructed. Additionally, the State
argued the statutory language “might be filed, registered, or recorded” did not create a
requirement that the instrument be filed and therefore was not an element of the offense. The
district court denied the Rule 29 motion stating:
               I’m at somewhat of a disadvantage having not been there at the hearing,
       but I did review the minutes of the decision by [the judge]. And he specifically
       found . . . that the community service office is a public office. Once you deliver a
       document to the deputy clerk, you know it will be used.
               He further found that [the] community service card was an instrument that
       defines a liability and duty to do community service.
1
       During the progression of this case, at least seven judges presided over the various
proceedings. Additionally, different judges presided over the hearing for the motion to dismiss
and the trial. Judge Meyers, the current judge, participated solely in Rubio’s sentencing.

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Following the presentation of the evidence, the jury was instructed:
                In order for the defendant Joseph Roman Rubio to be guilty of filing a
        false instrument, the State must prove each of the following:
                1. On or about November 20th, 2015;
                2. In the County of Kootenai, state of Idaho;
                3. The Defendant Joseph Roman Rubio did knowingly procure or offered;
                4. A false and/or forged instrument;
                5. To be filed in any public office within the state;
                6. Which instrument, if genuine, might be filed, or registered, or recorded
                    under any law of this state or of the United States.
At the request of the prosecutor, but over Rubio’s objection, the court gave three additional
instructions. The court instructed the jury, through Jury Instructions 16, 17, and 18, that under
Idaho law (1) “a time card, when filed in a court case, is an instrument”; (2) “the Kootenai
County community service desk is a public office”; and (3) “proof of completion of community
service, when such service is done pursuant to a court order, may be filed under the law of the
State of Idaho.” 2
        Following its deliberations, the jury returned a verdict finding Rubio guilty of filing a
false instrument, and the district court imposed a unified sentence of three years, with one and
one-half years determinate, but retained jurisdiction. Rubio timely appeals.
                                                II.
                                           ANALYSIS
        On appeal, Rubio first argues probable cause was not established at his preliminary
hearing. Rubio next argues the evidence at trial was insufficient to establish three elements of
the offense: (1) that the time card was an “instrument”; (2) that the community service desk was
a “public office”; and (3) that, if genuine, the time card “might have been filed under any law of
the State of Idaho or the United States.” Last, Rubio argues, and the State concedes, that the jury
was improperly instructed regarding three elements of the offense for which Rubio was charged.

2
        Rubio argued that there is no law to support the instruction that, according to Idaho law, a
time card, when filed in a court case, is an “instrument.” The district court replied that because
the judge at the motion to dismiss hearing found such, “it ma[de] it the law of the case for record,
and all our hands are tied.” Additionally, the district court stated in regard to the other objected
to instructions: “Basically, the court’s position is I’m constrained by the law of the case, prior
rulings by [the judge] as to [those instructions].” Rubio argues on appeal that the trial court
improperly applied this doctrine in denying Rubio’s Idaho Criminal Rule 29 motion. Because it
has no bearing on the outcome of this case, we need not address the issue.

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The State concedes that Instructions Number 16, 17, and 18 were erroneous because they
invaded the jury’s function to determine whether the State proved all essential elements of the
offense. However, the State argues against reviewing the preliminary hearing because Rubio
was found guilty after a jury trial. The State also argues it presented sufficient evidence upon
which a properly instructed jury could find all of the elements of the offense proven beyond a
reasonable doubt. We conclude the issue regarding jury instructions is dispositive.
       Whether the jury has been properly instructed is a question of law over which we
exercise free review. State v. Severson, 147 Idaho 694, 710, 215 P.3d 414, 430 (2009). When
reviewing jury instructions, we ask whether the instructions as a whole, and not individually,
fairly and accurately reflect applicable law. State v. Bowman, 124 Idaho 936, 942, 866 P.2d 193,
199 (Ct. App. 1993). Error is reversible if an instruction misleads the jury or prejudices a party.
Id.
       A trial court presiding over a criminal case must instruct the jury on all matters of law
necessary for the jury’s information. I.C. § 19-2132; Severson, 147 Idaho at 710, 215 P.3d at
430. In other words, a trial court must deliver instructions on the rules of law that are “material
to the determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence.” State v. Mack, 132 Idaho 480, 483,
974 P.2d 1109, 1112 (Ct. App. 1999). Each party is entitled to request the delivery of specific
instructions. However, such instructions will only be given if they are “correct and pertinent.”
I.C. § 19-2132. A proposed instruction is not “correct and pertinent” if it is (1) an erroneous
statement of the law; (2) adequately covered by the other instructions; or (3) not supported by the
facts of the case. Severson, 147 Idaho at 710, 215 P.3d at 430; State v. Weeks, 160 Idaho 195,
198, 370 P.3d 398, 401 (Ct. App. 2016).
       The trial court properly instructed the jury that, pursuant to I.C. § 18-3203, filing a false
or forged instrument required the “knowingly procuring or offering,” of “a false and/or forged
instrument,” “to be filed in any public office within the state,” “which instrument, if genuine,
might be filed, or registered, or recorded under any law of this state, or of the United States.”
The instructions also required the State to prove every material allegation in the charge beyond a
reasonable doubt. However, Instructions 16, 17, and 18 then took away from the jury the
questions of whether a community service time card was an instrument, whether a community
service desk was a public office, and whether there was a law under which the time card could be
filed. While the State concedes these instructions were erroneous, it argues the proper remedy is

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a new trial because the State presented sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction had the jury
been properly instructed. Rubio argues the proper remedy is acquittal because the facts of the
case do not constitute a crime within the meaning of I.C. § 18-3203. As a prerequisite to a
review of the jury instructions, we must necessarily address the question of whether the time card
constitutes an instrument within the meaning of the statute. 3
        The term “instrument” is not defined within the statute, nor have the Idaho appellate
courts interpreted its meaning within I.C. § 18-3203. The district court applied the definition
offered by Rubio and adopted by the Idaho Supreme Court in Steel Farms, Inc. v. Croft & Reed,
Inc., 154 Idaho 259, 265, 297 P.3d 222, 228 (2012). Applying this definition, the district court
ruled that as a matter of law the time card was an instrument within the meaning of the statute.
The district court stated:
               This is an instrument that defines rights, duties, entitlements or liabilities.
        Your client had a duty, a liability if you want to phrase it that way, to do his
        community service, and he is presenting . . . a document that he’s purporting
        demonstrates he performed part of that community service . . . so I don’t know
        how this can be interpreted as anything other than an instrument. It deals with
        Mr. Rubio’s rights, duties, entitlements, liabilities vis-à-vis the State of Idaho and
        the court order.
        This Court exercises free review over the application and construction of statutes. State
v. Reyes, 139 Idaho 502, 505, 80 P.3d 1103, 1106 (Ct. App. 2003). Where the language of a
statute is plain and unambiguous, this Court must give effect to the statute as written, without
engaging in statutory construction. State v. Burnight, 132 Idaho 654, 659, 978 P.2d 214, 219
(1999); State v. Escobar, 134 Idaho 387, 389, 3 P.3d 65, 67 (Ct. App. 2000). The language of
the statute is to be given its plain, obvious, and rational meaning. Burnight, 132 Idaho at 659,
978 P.2d at 219. If the language is clear and unambiguous, there is no occasion for the court to
resort to legislative history or rules of statutory interpretation. Escobar, 134 Idaho at 389, 3 P.3d
at 67. When this Court must engage in statutory construction because an ambiguity exists, it has
the duty to ascertain the legislative intent and give effect to that intent. State v. Beard, 135 Idaho
641, 646, 22 P.3d 116, 121 (Ct. App. 2001). To ascertain such intent, not only must the literal
3
         The district court ruled that Rubio was required by law, in this case by court order, to turn
in his time card, therefore falling within the proscription of Idaho Code § 18-3203. Rubio argues
a court order requiring a time card to be turned in is not equivalent to a law providing the same.
Because we conclude that the time card is not an instrument within the meaning of the statute,
we need not address this issue.

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words of the statute be examined, but also the context of those words, the public policy behind
the statute and its legislative history. Id. It is incumbent upon a court to give an ambiguous
statute an interpretation which will not render it a nullity. Id. Constructions of an ambiguous
statute that would lead to an absurd result are disfavored. State v. Doe, 140 Idaho 271, 275, 92
P.3d 521, 525 (2004).
       In Steel Farms, Inc., the Idaho Supreme Court had the opportunity to define what
constitutes an instrument. Id. at 265, 297 P.3d at 228. The Idaho Supreme Court utilized the
legal definition of instrument from Black’s Law Dictionary and held that an interlineation
written on an original contract constituted a valid, enforceable amendment according to the terms
of the contract. Id. On appeal, Rubio and the State argue for the application of this definition.
An instrument is defined as “[a] written legal document that defines rights, duties, entitlements,
or liabilities such as a contract, will, promissory note, or share certificate.”     Black’s Law
Dictionary 918 (10th ed. 2014).
       Here, the district court determined that the examples contained in the Black’s Law
Dictionary definition of instrument were not exhaustive, though made no comparison to the time
card. While the list provided in the definition is clearly not exhaustive, as a list of all legal
documents would be impracticable, it is illustrative of what types of documents are instruments,
i.e., legally significant. Contracts, wills, promissory notes, and share certificates have legal
significance to which falsification would carry a chargeable offense. However, not every piece
of writing has legal significance to which a criminal offense is chargeable if false. A contract is
“[a]n agreement between two or more parties creating obligations that are enforceable or
otherwise recognizable at law.” Black’s Law Dictionary 389 (10th ed. 2014). A will is “a
document by which a person directs his or her estate to be distributed upon death.” Black’s Law
Dictionary 1832 (10th ed. 2014). A promissory note is “[a]n unconditional written promise,
signed by the maker, to pay absolutely and in any event a certain sum of money either to, or to
the order of, the bearer or a designated person.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1226 (10th ed. 2014).
A share certificate is “[a]n instrument evidencing ownership of shares of stock.” Black’s Law
Dictionary 1644 (10th ed. 2014). These examples of instruments have legal significance, to
which falsification carries with it a cognizable offense, in stark contrast with a time card. The
time card is wholly dissimilar from the list of instruments contained within the definition.

                                                6
Rubio’s community service time card is nothing more than the name indicates; it is a time card
that logs his community service.
       The district court, however, determined that Rubio had a duty, or a liability, to do
community service, and it was the time card that defined Rubio’s duty or liability to complete
community service. We disagree. Based on the above definition of instrument we conclude the
time card is not a written legal document that defines rights, duties, entitlements, or liabilities.
The time card did not define Rubio’s duty or liability to do community service. Rather, the time
card was a blank page with columns to be filled out with the date, the number of hours worked,
initials, and a stamp. The time card did not contain Rubio’s name or the required number of
hours to be worked but, instead, only listed the number of hours that had been worked. This
document merely logs hours; it does not define legal rights, duties, entitlements, or liabilities. It
carries no legal significance and as such cannot carry legal consequences. Therefore, Rubio’s
time card is not an instrument within the meaning of I.C. § 18-3203.
         Because the time card is not an instrument within the meaning of the statute, we
conclude that the facts of this case do not create a cognizable offense under I.C. § 18-3203. 4
Therefore, it follows that even if the jury had been properly instructed, the evidence presented by
the State at trial was insufficient to establish a necessary element of filing a false instrument.
                                                 III.
                                          CONCLUSION
       A community service time card is not an instrument within the meaning of I.C. § 18-
3203. Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is vacated, and the case is remanded with
instructions to enter a judgment of acquittal.
       Chief Judge GRATTON and Judge HUSKEY CONCUR.

4
       For advisory purposes, it is strongly recommended that an instruction defining the term
instrument be included when an offense under I.C. § 18-3203 comes before a jury in the future.

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