Court Opinion

ID: 2715442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-06 17:23:49.771843+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:20.189937
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                             No. 69797-8-1

                        Respondent,              DIVISION ONE

                v.
                                                 UNPUBLISHED OPINION
SANDRA JESSIE HIMMELMAN,

                        Appellant.               FILED: May 5, 2014

       Schindler, J. — In a prosecution for forgery and identity theft, the court properly

instructed the jurythat it is permitted but not required to find that the defendant had

knowledge ifthe juryfinds the defendant had information which would lead a

reasonable person in the same situation to believe the relevant facts exist. We affirm.

                                          FACTS

       On June 27, 2010, Carolyn Rygg's checkbook was stolen from her car. Rygg

immediately reported the theft to the police and contacted her bank the next day. Rygg

identified the missing checks that were still outstanding and the bank gave her a new

account number.

       On July 5, Sandra Jessie Himmelman cashed a check for $457.89 at the Fred

Meyer in Mill Creek. Himmelman made a purchase of $87 and took the rest in cash.

The check was made out to Himmelman, signed by Terry Jones, and identified the
No. 69797-8-1/2

payor as Westgate Business Services LLC. The account number listed on the check

was from one of the missing checks on Rygg's old account.

      On July 13, the bank contacted Rygg and showed her a copy of the check. Rygg

confirmed that she did not own a business named Westgate Business Services and did

not know Terry Jones or Sandra Himmelman. Rygg also confirmed that she did not

give permission for Westgate Business Services, Jones, or Himmelman to write checks

on the account or possess her account number.

      The case was assigned to Detective Steven Sieverson. Detective Sieverson

called Himmelman to ask about the $457.89 check that she cashed at Fred Meyer.

Himmelman immediately began to cry and admitted that she cashed the check.

Detective Sieverson asked Himmelman where she got the check. Himmelman said that

she got the check "from a guy [named] Mark" but that she did not know Mark's last

name or phone number. Himmelman continued to cry and referred to Mark as "a doper"

and "a low life." Himmelman said that Mark did not have a job, that he owed her

$5,800, and that he refused to pay her. Himmelman told Detective Sieverson she would

try to find out more information and call him back. Himmelman called back later and left
a message that Mark's last name was Barthy but she did not have a phone numberfor

him. Detective Sieverson was unable to locate Mark Barthy.

       Detective Sieverson called Himmelman to set up a time to talk to her.

Himmelman met with Detective Sieverson on October 6 and agreed to an audiotaped

and videotaped interview. Detective Sieverson gave Himmelman a form advising her of

her Miranda1 rights. Himmelman read and signed the form and agreed to give a written

statement.

       1 Miranda v. Arizona. 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
                                                   2
No. 69797-8-1/3

        The State charged Himmelman with forgery and identity theft in the second

degree. Himmelman did not testify at trial. The court admitted evidence of

Himmelman's phone conversation with Detective Sieverson, a redacted version of the

taped interview, and her written statement.2 Detective Sieverson also testified that

Himmelman's responses seemed a little slow, as if she were taking prescription

medication, but that her behavior was otherwise normal and she did not appear

confused during the phone conversation or the interview. The jury found Himmelman

guilty of forgery and identity theft in the second degree. Himmelman appeals.

                                                ANALYSIS

        Himmelman contends the trial court erred in giving the jury instruction on the

knowledge element of the crimes of forgery and identity theft.3 Himmelman argues the

instruction prevented her from arguing her theory of the case by omitting language that

the jury was permitted to find that she acted without knowledge ifthe jury found she was

less attentive or intelligent than the ordinary person. We disagree.

        " 'Jury instructions are sufficient when they allow counsel to argue their theory of

the case, are not misleading, and when read as a whole properly inform the trier of fact

of the applicable law.'" Keller v. City of Spokane, 146 Wash. 2d 237, 249, 44 P.3d 845

(2002) (quoting Bodin v. City of Stanwood. 130 Wash. 2d 726, 732, 927 P.2d 240 (1996)).

If a jury instruction correctly states the law, the trial court's decision to give the

instruction will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Aguirre, 168

        2 Neither Himmelman's written statement nor the video of the interview was designated as part of
the appellate record.
         3As the trial court correctly instructed the jury, forgery requires proof that the defendant knew that
the instrument was forged, and identity theft requires proof that the defendant knowingly obtained,
possessed, transferred, or used a means of identification or financial information of another person. See
RCW 9A.60.020(1)(b); RCW 9.35.020(1) and (3).
                                                       3
No. 69797-8-1/4

Wn.2d 350, 364, 229 P.3d 669 (2010). A trial court's refusal to give a jury instruction is

likewise reviewed for an abuse of discretion. State v. Buzzell, 148 Wash. App. 592, 602,

200 P.3d 287 (2009).

       Here, the court used the 11 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury

Instructions: Criminal 10.02, at 206 (3d ed. 2008) (WPIC), to instruct the jury on the

definition of "knowledge." The jury instruction states:

               A person knows or acts knowingly or with knowledge with respect
       to a fact, circumstance, or result when he or she is aware of that fact,
       circumstance, or result. It is not necessary that the person know that the
       fact, circumstance, or result is defined by law as being unlawful or an
       element of a crime.
              If a person has information that would lead a reasonable person in
       the same situation to believe that a fact exists, the jury is permitted but not
       required to find that he or she acted with knowledge of that fact.
              When acting knowingly as to a particular fact is required to
       establish an element of a crime, the element is also established if a
       person acts intentionally as to that fact.

       The trial court refused to give Himmelman's proposed knowledge instruction that

included the following language:

              If a person has information that would lead a reasonable person in
       the same situation to believe that a fact exists, the jury is permitted but not
       required to find that either 1) he or she acted with knowledge of that fact;
       or 2) that he was less attentive or intelligent than the ordinary person and
       did not act with knowledge of that fact.

       Himmelman contends that it was error for the court to not give her proposed

instruction. Himmelman asserts the instruction was supported by the record and

required by State v. Shipp, 93 Wash. 2d 510, 610 P.2d 1322 (1980).

       In Shipp, the court held unconstitutional an instruction that created a mandatory

presumption that if the jury found that the defendant had information which would impart

knowledge to a reasonable knowledgeable person, the defendant had knowledge.
No. 69797-8-1/5

Shipp, 93 Wash. 2d at 514-15. The court concluded that a definition of constructive

knowledge can only be constitutional if the jury is permitted but not required to find

knowledge if the jury finds that the defendant had information which would lead a

reasonable person in the same situation to believe that the relevant facts exist. Shipp,
93 Wash. 2d at 516. As the court explained, the comparison to the ordinary person

creates only an inference and the jury must still find subjective knowledge. Shipp, 93
Wash. 2d at 517. Thus, the court concluded the jury may only be permitted, not directed,

to find knowledge if the jury finds that the ordinary person would still have knowledge

under the circumstances. Shipp, 93 Wash. 2d at 516. The court noted that "[t]he jury must

still be allowed to conclude that [the defendant] was less attentive or intelligent than the

ordinary person." Shipp, 93 Wash. 2d at 516.

       Himmelman argues that by not including language that "[s]he was less attentive

or intelligent than the ordinary person," she was prevented from arguing that she did not

know the check was forged. Himmelman claims that based on the evidence, she was a

"[p]oster child for gullibility." Himmelman also points to the testimony of Detective

Sieverson describing her as slow in responding, as if she were on some kind of

prescription medication, to argue the jury could have found she lacked the requisite

knowledge because she was less attentive or intelligent than the ordinary person.

       The trial court rejected the argument that the language was mandatory and ruled

that the WPIC instruction allowed Himmelman to argue her theory of the case:

       [T]he Court looks carefully at State v. Shipp as well as the comment that
       accompanies the WPIC, and notes that considerable thought was given to
       the recommended language that is currently within the WPIC, that the
       inclusion of the phrase, "The jury is permitted but not required to find that
       he or she acted with knowledge of that fact" is the clause that is intended
       to reflect the Shipp decision, and from that the Court believes that the
No. 69797-8-1/6

       defense can certainly argue your theory of the case, which is reflected
       within the proposed jury instruction you submitted.

       The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to give the proposed jury

instruction. As the trial court ruled, inclusion of this language is not required. In accord

with Shipp, WPIC 10.02 allows the jury to consider the defendant's subjective

intelligence or mental condition. Shipp, 93 Wash. 2d at 516; see also State v. Barrinqton,

52 Wash. App. 478, 485, 761 P.2d 632 (1988), review denied, 111 Wash. 2d 1033 (1989);

State v. Kees, 48 Wash. App. 76, 82, 737 P.2d 1038 (1987); State v. Rivas, 49 Wash. App.
677, 689, 746 P.2d 312 (1987); State v. Davis. 39 Wash. App. 916, 919, 696 P.2d 627

(1985). The WPIC 10.02 instruction does not impose a mandatory presumption but

simply creates a permissive inference and, therefore, properly states the law. The

instruction allowed Himmelman to argue her theory of the case that she acted without

knowledge based on the evidence that she was less attentive than an ordinary person.

In closing, Himmelman argued, in pertinent part:

               [The prosecutor] talked a lot about Instruction No. 17. That's the
       knowledge instruction where it says that the jury is committed but not
       required to think that someone has all these facts and a reasonable
       person would use those facts to make a judgment that you could if you
       wanted to presume that person innocent. But you don't have to. You
       could. There are a lot of reasonable people walking around in the world, a
       lot of people when they have these facts may be able to see the red flags
       and may be able to put them together. But there are also those that are
       not.. . .

                . . . [Himmelman] was embarrassed. She kept saying I feel so
       stupid, I honestly believed him. I shop there. She felt so bad she initially
       felt like she was going to be responsible for it.. . . Her wanting to be a
       stand-up person does not mean she was guilty at the time the check was
       passed. That means she's a good person. That means she's gullible and
       willing to cover for someone else and pay for money down this $5800
       hole         She fell for his story. She fell for his getting his life together
       story. That's not a crime. It is sad.. ..
No. 69797-8-1/7

              ... Watch the video. She is clueless. She had no idea she was a
      suspect. Same gullibility to believe this check in July - the same gullibility
      that thought she was a helpful citizen in October.

              A sophisticated fraud. Not a very sophisticated Sandy.

       Because the instruction was a correct statement of the law, Himmelman fails to

show the trial court abused its discretion by refusing her proposed instruction.

       Himmelman also challenges "Instruction No. 4" defining "reasonable doubt."

Himmelman argues that the language, "an abiding belief in the truth of the charge,"

impermissibly directs the jury to search for the truth rather than evaluate the

prosecution's evidence. Instruction No. 4 reads, in pertinent part:

              A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise
       from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in
       the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering
       all of the evidence or lack of evidence. If, from such consideration, you
       have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond
       a reasonable doubt.

       Instruction No. 4 mirrors WPIC 4.01, at 85. In State v. Bennett, 161 Wash. 2d 303,

318, 165 P.3d 1241 (2007), our supreme court expressly approved of WPIC 4.01 ("Trial

courts are instructed to use the WPIC 4.01 instruction to inform the jury of the

government's burden to prove every element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable

doubt."). In State v. Pirtle, 127 Wash. 2d 628, 904 P.2d 245 (1995), the court held that the

"abiding belief language did not diminish the pattern instruction defining "reasonable

doubt," concluding the additional language was "unnecessary but was not an error."

Pirtle, 127Wn.2dat658.

       Himmelman contends that approval of WPIC 4.01 in Bennett has been called into

question by the recent decision in State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741, 278 P.3d 653 (2012).

In Emery, the court held a prosecutor's argument that the jury verdict should " 'speak
No. 69797-8-1/8

the truth'" was improper, noting the jury's job was not to determine the truth of what

happened but whether the offense was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Emery, 174
Wash. 2d at 760. Emery does not address the "abiding belief in the truth" language in

WPIC 4.01 that simply elaborates on the meaning of being "satisfied beyond a

reasonable doubt."

       We affirm.

                                                     O.^t^pO^,
WE CONCUR:

   W*w/~^ C^Y,

                                                                                          <^o
                                                                                          r-ic:
                                                                                  •c-

                                                                                          l~r\
                                                                                  2r»
                                                                                  —<      On:;
                                                                                      I     ' ' «...
                                                                                  en      t''~-"C •
                                                                                          *-** T ; ;

                                                                                  3B»     •m fi--.
                                                                                 •MM      « . _ •—

                                                                                  —
                                                                                          _^r-
                                                                                  *—•
                                                                                          .',-• to

                                                                                 r\>      -—; ~~
                                                                                 r>o      r_:--^

                                             8