Court Opinion

ID: 1036492
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-05 19:52:27.559152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:37.470028
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                              NO. 70368-4-1

                      Respondent,                 DIVISION ONE                     I
                                                                                  CJ1

                      v.

VASILIY SLOBODYANYUK,                             UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                                                                        oc:

                      Appellant.                  FILED: August 5, 2013

         Lau, J. —Vasiliy Slobodyanyuk appeals his assault, theft, and identity theft

convictions. He argues that insufficient evidence supports the convictions. Finding no

error, we affirm.

                                           FACTS

         The State charged Slobodyanyuk with second degree theft (count 1), third

degree assault (count 2), second degree possession of stolen property (count 3), and

second degree identity theft (counts 4-6). Testimony at trial established the following

facts.

         Brandon Kilian works for Nighthawk Protection as a private security guard. His

duties include patrolling businesses and apartment complexes, looking for suspicious
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activities, and responding to noise complaints. While on duty, he drives a Ford Crown

Victoria that is marked with Nighthawk's logo and the words "Rapid Response" on the

back with the company's phone number. Kilian's uniform consists of black pants with

blue stripes, tan shirt, badge, and patches that say "Nighthawk Protection."

      The night of April 23, 2011, Kilian was patrolling the Madison Park apartment

complex in Clark County on the 7:30 PM to 6:00 AM shift for Nighthawk. The complex

had an entry and exit gate requiring a pass code for access. That day the gate was

broken and stuck in the open position. Consequently, apartment management asked

Nighthawk to conduct extra patrols around the complex.

       Kilian conducted six patrols of the complex the night of April 23. Approximately

two hours elapsed between each patrol. Kilian conducted his sixth and final patrol

around 3:30 AM. At that time, he noticed a black car double-parked behind several

other cars at the back of the parking lot about a quarter mile from the complex's front

gate. The black car was not there during Kilian's previous patrols of the parking lot.

The car was about 40 yards from the apartment buildings, and the parking lot in that

area was "extremely dark" because the nearby light pole was burned out. RP (Jan. 30,

2012) at 136-37.

       Kilian exited his patrol car and approached the black car. He heard a noise that

sounded like a trunk or car door closing and saw a man, later identified as Vasiliy

Slobodyanyuk, standing next to the black car. No one else was nearby. Kilian asked

Slobodyanyuk for his name and he replied, "William Brown." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 138-

39. When Kilian asked what he was doing, he said he was waiting for a friend. Kilian

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asked for the friend's name and where the friend lived. Slobodyanyuk said, "I don't

know." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 140.

       Kilian could see through the black car's window to the inside and noticed "a

bunch of miscellaneous items" in the car, including multiple stereo faceplates, a laptop

case, and miscellaneous electronics. RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 140. Kilian asked

Slobodyanyuk if he would open his trunk and he replied, "No problem." RP (Jan. 30,

2012) at 141. Inside the trunk, Kilian saw a toolbox with latex gloves on top. Based on

all of the circumstances, Kilian believed Slobodyanyuk was car prowling.      Kilian asked

Slobodyanyuk to walk with him to his patrol car. On the way, Kilian used his handheld

radio to contact his dispatcher.1 Dispatch advised Kilian that the Vancouver police
would arrive in approximately 10 minutes. Slobodyanyuk grew agitated and said, "I'm

just going to go." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 143. Kilian told Slobodyanyuk to "hang out just

for a couple more minutes until the police got there." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 144. Kilian

placed his hand on top of Slobodyanyuk's right hand, which was on Kilian's patrol car.

Kilian again contacted dispatch and asked if the police could come faster. The moment

Kilian completed this transmission, Slobodyanyuk turned and swung at Kilian's face with

his left hand. Kilian ducked, but Slobodyanyuk's left fist grazed Kilian's left eyebrow.

       Kilian grabbed Slobodyanyuk and both men tripped and fell to the ground.

Slobodyanyuk then jumped up and ran back to the black car. Kilian followed and tried

to grab Slobodyanyuk as he was getting into the car, but he lost his grip and

Slobodyanyuk drove away. Kilian reached for his radio and found it missing. Kilian had

       1 Kilian's Kenwood radio, issued to him by Nighthawk Protection, had an antenna
on top, several different buttons, volume on one side, and different channels on the top.
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previously provided dispatch with the black car's make, model, and license plate

number. Kilian ran back to his patrol car and used its bolted-in radio to advise dispatch

that Slobodyanyuk was driving off the property.

       Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Officer Todd Schwartz responded to

Kilian's dispatch call. At about 3:45 AM, he located a car matching Kilian's description

on the road near the Madison Park apartment complex. Officer Schwartz followed the

car as it made several turns and eventually pulled into a residential driveway. Officer

Schwartz exited his patrol vehicle and approached the car in the driveway. The items in

the car initially obstructed his view of the driver. Officer Schwartz contacted the driver,

later identified as Slobodyanyuk, through the driver's side window and asked if he lived

at the residence. Slobodyanyuk responded, "No." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 187. Officer

Schwartz could hear what he described as "police radio traffic" coming from

Slobodyanyuk's car. Officer Schwartz ordered Slobodyanyuk to get out of the car and

then noticed a portable police-style radio sitting on the driver's seat. The radio was

turned on. Kilian arrived at the scene and identified the driver as the person who swung

at him. He also identified his radio, which had been missing since Slobodyanyuk fled

the apartment complex.

       VPD Sergeant John Schultz arrived at the scene to assist Officer Schwartz. By

that time Slobodyanyuk was detained in handcuffs outside Officer Schwartz's patrol car.

Sergeant Schultz placed Slobodyanyuk in his own patrol car. Sergeant Schultz then

looked through the window of Slobodyanyuk's car and saw a police radio in the driver's

seat, a Mac laptop between the driver and passenger seats, a large flat screen TV and

several other electronics in the backseat, a piece of luggage in the area above the

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backseat, and another piece of luggage in the front passenger seat. From outside the

car, Sergeant Schultz could read the names on the luggage tags: "Jim Lowne" and

"Jolene Conzatti." RP (Jan. 30, 2012) at 203. Sergeant Schultz later learned that

Lowne and Conzatti's residence was burglarized while they were out of town the

weekend of April 23-24, 2011.

       VPD Officer Spencer Harris obtained a search warrant for Slobodyanyuk's car.

Inside the car he found several items including a Samsung Blu Ray disc player, a

stereo, speakers, a 47-inch LG flat screen TV, a laptop computer, and luggage. A bag

found above the backseat contained vintage fishing gear belonging to Lowne. Officer

Harris also found a small box in one of the bags that contained Lowne's diamond and

gold ring. Officer Harris later determined the items were stolen from Lowne and

Conzatti's residence during the burglary. Lowne valued the flat screen TV at $1,200,

the Blu Ray disc player at $250, the stereo with speakers at $500, the laptop at $1,200,

the fishing gear at $900, and the ring at $24,000.

       Officer Harris also searched the trunk. There he found identification cards, credit

cards, checkbooks, and other personal documents belonging to three people—Asya

Carducci, Nicola Carducci, and Victoria Overholser. Officer Harris found no

accompanying purses or wallets. Police later learned that Asya and Nicola Carducci's

residence and Victoria Overholser's residence were burglarized between April 17 and

April 18, 2011. Asya Carducci testified that she last saw her identification card, bank

cards, and checkbook in her purse, which was in her apartment's hallway the night the

burglary occurred. When she woke up the next morning, her purse and its contents

were missing. Asya's husband, Nicola, testified that his wallet—containing his

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identification and bank cards—was also taken in the burglary. Victoria Overholser

testified that her purse, containing her identification and bank cards, was taken when

her apartment was burglarized. Overholser's debit card was used at a gas station soon

after the burglary.

       Slobodyanyuk spoke to Officer Harris on the morning of April 24. He told Officer

Harris that he lived in Portland, Oregon. Slobodyanyuk said he was at a party with

some friends in Vancouver the night of April 23. He told Officer Harris that he went to

the Madison Park apartment complex during the early morning hours of April 24 when

some friends called him and asked for a ride because they were drunk. Officer Harris

asked him to identify his friends but he refused.

       Slobodyanyuk testified at trial. He said he lived in Vancouver, Washington when

the crimes were committed. He testified that he was at home asleep on the night of

April 23, 2011. He said that he went to the Madison Park apartment complex early in

the morning on April 24 because some "acquaintances" called him and said they

needed him to "carry something in [his] car." RP (Jan. 31, 2012) at 335. Slobodyanyuk

stated that when he arrived at the apartment complex, he met two men who loaded

items into his car. He denied knowing that the items were stolen or participating in the

burglaries. He said one of the men was nicknamed "Max," "David," or "Danick." RP

(Jan. 31, 2012) at 351. The other man was called "Small Guy," "Mali," or "Tim." RP

(Jan. 31, 2012) at 352. Slobodyanyuk admitted at trial that the statements he made to

Officer Harris on the morning of April 24 were false.

       Based on the evidence presented at trial regarding the radio's value, the State

asked the court to instruct the jury on third degree theft rather than second degree theft

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on count 1 2 The court also instructed the jury on fourth degree assault in addition to
third degree assault on count 2.3 The jury convicted Slobodyanyuk ofthird degree theft
on count 1 and convicted him of the remaining crimes as charged. The court imposed a

sentence at the high end of the standard range. Slobodyanyuk appeals.

                                         ANALYSIS

       Slobodyanyuk argues that insufficient evidence supports his assault, theft, and

identity theft convictions.

       Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if, viewed in the light most favorable

to the State, it permits any rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of the crime

beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Salinas. 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068

(1992).4 "A claim of insufficiency admits the truth of the State's evidence and all
inferences that reasonably can be drawn therefrom." Salinas, 119 Wn.2d at 201.

Circumstantial and direct evidence are equally reliable. State v. Moles. 130 Wn. App.

461,465, 123P.3d 132(2005). We defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting

testimony, witness credibility, and persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Fiser, 99

Wn. App. 714, 719, 995 P.2d 107 (2000).

       2 Count 1 alleged theft of Kilian's portable radio.
       3 Count 2 alleged that Slobodyanyuk assaulted Kilian with intent to prevent lawful
apprehension or detention.

       4 In determining whether sufficient evidence exists, the reviewing court
determines not "whether it believes the evidence at trial established guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt," but whether "'any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.'" State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216,
221, 616 P.2d 628 (1980) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61
L Ed. 2d 560 (1979)).
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      Third Degree Assault

       Slobodyanyuk does not dispute that he assaulted Kilian with intent to resist

Kilian's attempt to apprehend or detain him. See Appellant's Br. at 4. But he claims

insufficient evidence supports his conviction because Kilian lacked probable cause to

believe Slobodyanyuk was committing a crime and, thus, lacked lawful authority to

apprehend or detain him. The State responds that Kilian had probable cause to believe

Slobodyanyuk was committing second degree vehicle prowl or second degree

possession of stolen property.

      The State charged Slobodyanyuk with third degree assault under RCW

9A.36.031(1)(a). Under that subsection, a person is guilty of third degree assault if,

under circumstances not amounting to first or second degree assault, he or she "[w]ith

intent to prevent or resist the execution of any lawful process or mandate of any court

officer or the lawful apprehension or detention of himself, herself, or another person,

assaults another." RCW 9A.36.031(1)(a).

       This statute's protection extends to private citizens who are lawfully arresting or

detaining another person. State v. Mierz. 127 Wn.2d 460, 478, 901 P.2d 286 (1995). A

private citizen can make a citizen's arrest "when a felony or a misdemeanor that

constitutes a breach of the peace is committed in that individual's presence." State v.

Malone. 106 Wn.2d 607, 609 n.1, 724 P.2d 364 (1986). The Restatement (Second) of

Torts § 116 (1965) defines breach of the peace as "a public offense done by violence,

or one causing or likely to cause an immediate disturbance of public order." See also

Stone Mach. Co. v. Kessler. 1 Wn. App. 750, 754, 463 P.2d 651 (1970) (quoting

Restatement § 116).

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               "To constitute a 'breach of the peace' it is not necessary that the peace be
       actually broken, and if what is done is unjustifiable and unlawful, tending with
       sufficient directness to break the peace, no more is required, nor is actual
       personal violence an essential element of the offense."

Kessler. 1 Wn. App. at 754 (quoting McKee v. State. 75 Okla. Crim. 390, 132 P.2d 173

(1942)). While "breach of the peace" is required for a citizen to arrest for a

misdemeanor, a citizen may arrest for a felony based on reasonable and probable

cause to believe the arrested party is guilty of a felony. State v. Jack. 63 Wn.2d 632,

637, 388 P.2d 566 (1964).

       Probable cause is not knowledge of evidence sufficient to establish guilt beyond

a reasonable doubt but, rather, is "reasonable grounds for suspicion coupled with

evidence of circumstances to convince a cautious or disinterested person that the

accused is guilty." State v. Bellows. 72 Wn.2d 264, 266, 432 P.2d 654 (1967). We

consider the totality of the circumstances when determining whether probable cause

exists. State v.Graham. 130 Wn.2d 711, 724, 927 P.2d 227 (1996).

       Objective facts and circumstances determine the validity of an arrest. State v.

Huff. 64 Wn. App. 641, 646, 826 P.2d 698 (1992). "[A]n arrest supported by probable

cause is not made unlawful by an officer's subjective reliance on, or verbal

announcement of, an offense different from the one for which probable cause exists."

Huff. 64 Wn. App. at 646; see also State v. Stebbins. 47 Wn. App. 482, 485-86, 735

P.2d 1353 (1987) (police arrested suspect for armed robbery; although State failed to

present evidence supporting a finding of probable cause for that crime, arrest was held

lawful because probable cause existed to support arrest for crime of burglary).

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       We conclude Kilian had probable cause to believe Slobodyanyuk committed

second degree vehicle prowl on the night of April 23, 2011. A person commits second

degree vehicle prowl when he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a vehicle with

intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein. Former RCW 9A.52.100

(2011). Kilian heard a car door or trunk close and saw Slobodyanyuk standing outside

his car, which was double-parked behind two other cars. Slobodyanyuk was in an unlit

portion of the parking lot in the early morning hours at a time when the apartment

complex's security gate was broken. Kilian saw miscellaneous valuable electronics

inside Slobodyanyuk's car and a toolbox and gloves in the trunk. Slobodyanyuk

provided no plausible explanation for his presence in the parking lot. Based on the

totality of the circumstances, Kilian had reasonable grounds to suspect Slobodyanyuk

was car prowling. This unjustifiable and unlawful conduct constitutes breach of the

peace. Kilian had lawful authority to apprehend or detain Slobodyanyuk.

       Further, even if Kilian lacked probable cause to believe Slobodyanyuk was car

prowling, probable cause existed to believe Slobodyanyuk was guilty of second degree

possession of stolen property. Under RCW 9A.56.160(1)(a), a person commits second

degree possession of stolen property when he or she possesses stolen property

exceeding $750 in value. "'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." RCW 9A.56.140(1). Here, Slobodyanyuk's car was

filled with valuable electronics, including a flat screen TV, a laptop computer, and a

stereo. Considering the totality of the circumstances discussed above, Kilian had

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reasonable grounds to suspect Slobodyanyuk was guilty of second degree possession

of stolen property—a felony under RCW 9A.56.160(2). Kilian had lawful authority to

apprehend or detain Slobodyanyuk. Sufficient evidence supports Slobodyanyuk's third

degree assault conviction.

       Second Degree Identity Theft

       Slobodyanyuk argues that insufficient evidence supports his second degree

identity theft convictions because the State failed to prove that he knowingly possessed

identification cards, credit cards, or checkbooks or that he intended to use these items

to commit additional crimes. The State responds that the totality of the circumstances

demonstrates both knowledge and intent.

       A person commits identity theft when he or she "knowingly obtain[s], possess[es],

use[s], or transfers] a means of identification or financial information of another person,

living or dead, with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any crime."5 RCW
9.35.020(1). Slobodyanyuk possessed identification cards and financial information

belonging to three different people. As discussed above, Asya Carducci, Nicola

Carducci, and Victoria Overholser each testified that when their identification cards and

financial information were stolen, those items were contained in either their wallets or

their purses. When Officer Harris found the items in Slobodyanyuk's car, they were

scattered in the trunk without the corresponding wallets or purses. The jury could

reasonably infer that at some point Slobodyanyuk extracted the items and discarded the

       5 First degree identity theft occurs when the accused obtains credit, money,
goods, services, or anything else of value in excess of $1,500 in value. RCW
9.35.020(2). Second degree identity theft is identity theft committed under
circumstances not amounting to first degree identity theft. RCW 9.35.020(3).
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victims' wallets and purses. The jury could also reasonably infer that when

Slobodyanyuk discarded the purses and wallets but retained the victims' identification

cards and financial information, he intended to use those items to aid, abet, or commit a

crime. Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence indicates that

Slobodyanyuk sought out identification and financial information and retained those

items while discarding other items. While Slobodyanyuk claimed that he did not know

exactly what items were in his car and did not intend to use the items for further criminal

activity, we defer to the jury's credibility determinations, which will not be overturned on

appeal. The evidence sufficiently supports Slobodyanyuk's second degree identity theft

convictions.

       Third Degree Theft

       Slobodyanyuk contends that insufficient evidence supports his third degree theft

conviction because the State failed to prove he intended to steal Kilian's radio. The

State responds that the evidence shows Slobodyanyuk exercised unauthorized control

over the radio and failed to return it.

       A person commits theft when he or she "wrongfully obtain[s] or exert[s]

unauthorized control over the property or services of another or the value thereof, with

intent to deprive him or her of such property or services." RCW 9A.56.020(1 )(a). Third

degree theft is theft of property or services not exceeding $750 in value. RCW

9A.56.050(1).

       Here, Slobodyanyuk fled the Madison Park apartment complex with Kilian's radio

inside his car immediately after he assaulted Kilian. Given that the radio was later

found on Slobodyanyuk's driver's seat and was turned on to a loud volume, it is

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reasonable to conclude Slobodyanyuk knew it was in his car. No evidence indicates

that Slobodyanyuk attempted or intended to return the radio.6 Slobodyanyuk contends
that "Kilian's radio ended up in [his] car, likely because it fell in as the two men

struggled" and, thus, "the testimony proved only that [he] ended up with the radio by

accident, and had no opportunity to return it before he was stopped by police."

Appellant's Br. at 12, 13. We disagree. Even if Slobodyanyuk did not "wrongfully

obtain" Kilian's radio, he "exert[ed] unauthorized control" over it when he knowingly kept

it in his car, deprived Kilian of its use, and fled the scene without returning the radio.

RCW 9A.56.020(1)(a). Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence

sufficiently supports Slobodyanyuk's third degree theft conviction.

                                       CONCLUSION

       Sufficient evidence supports Slobodyanyuk's assault, theft, and identity theft

convictions. We affirm.

WE CONCUR:

        t*Jfis\&-    £.                                JL/ e.

       6 It is also reasonable to conclude that Slobodyanyuk benefited from possessing
Kilian's radio, given that he fled the crime scene and prevented Kilian from using the
radio to communicate with dispatch.
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