Court Opinion

ID: 2813013
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-06-30 15:36:17.244069+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:34:13.364499
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                        DIVISION ONE
                Respondent,
                                                        No. 71937-8-1
                   v.
                                                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION                                      o

MUSTAF MOHAMED AHMED,                                                                             s             —<<=

                Appellant.                              FILED: June 29, 2015                      fe £o

       Dwyer, J. — Mustaf Ahmed appeals from the judgment entered on a                                s          ;?"
                                                                                                      -**        -i-r

jury's verdict finding him guilty offelony driving underthe influence.1 Ahmed                         ^           o^
                                                                                                          <=>        *%:
contends that insufficient evidence was adduced at trial as to each of the

charged alternative means of committing the crime, as was necessary to ensure

jury unanimity in the absence of a particularized expression of unanimity from the

jury.2 Ahmed's contention is based on the premise that one of the means

charged—driving while "under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or

a drug"—represents, in actuality, two alternative means. We rejectAhmed's

assertion and conclude that sufficient evidence was adduced at trial to support

each alternative means charged. Consequently, we affirm.

        1Ahmed was also charged with, and convicted of, driving while license
suspended/revoked in the first degree. He does not appeal from that conviction.
       2Such a particularized expression of unanimity is guaranteed when the jury is instructed
that it must be unanimous as to which means it finds proved. No such instruction was given to
Ahmed's jury.
No. 71937-8-1/2

                                          I

      Washington State Patrol Trooper Adam Gruener observed Ahmed driving

a motor vehicle at a rate of 80 miles per hour in a 60 miles per hour zone.

Ahmed's vehicle drifted over the fog line of the shoulder by approximately one

tire's width before coming back into the lane of travel, at which point Gruener,

who was following Ahmed's vehicle, activated his patrol car's emergency lights.

Ahmed, however, did not slow down, did not brake, and did not respond at all;

rather, he continued driving on the freeway at 80 miles per hour for 15 seconds.

Eventually, Ahmed's vehicle exited the freeway and, despite other vehicles

pulling over in recognition of Gruener's presence, continued along surface streets

for 20 to 30 seconds before Ahmed finally stopped his vehicle approximately

one-half mile from the freeway. Upon approaching Ahmed's vehicle, Gruener

observed that Ahmed's eyes were bloodshot and watery, that he was sweating

profusely, and that h is speech was slurred. Gruener further noticed both a
strong odor of alcohol emanating from Ahmed's vehicle and an open can of beer

behind the passenger's seat. Ahmed was then arrested.

       When Gruener took Ahmed to the hospital to have his blood drawn Ahmed

admitted to drinking, telling Gruener, "I know Ifucked up, I shouldn't have been

driving." An analysis of Ahmed's blood revealed an ethanol level of 0.073 and a
THC level of 3.4 nanograms per milliliter. Later, at trial, forensic toxicologist

Sarah Swenson testified that, in her opinion, based on the other evidence

presented, Ahmed's behavior was "consistent with someone who is under the

influence of alcohol and/or drugs."
No. 71937-8-1/3

       Ahmed was charged by information with one count of felony driving under

the influence pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of RCW 46.61.502(1). These

provisions are as follows:

          (1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of
          intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug ifthe person drives a
          vehicle within this state:

                 (c) While the person is under the influence of or affected by
          intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug; or
                 (d) While the person is under the combined influence of or
          affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, and any drug.

          The jury returned a guilty verdict.3 Ahmed was sentenced to 15 months of
incarceration, 12 months of community custody, and ordered to pay various

amounts of fines and assessments.

                                               II

          Ahmed contends that his right to a unanimous jury verdictwas violated.

This is so, he asserts, because the jury did not specify which of the charged
means supported its verdict, and the State failed to adduce sufficient evidence as

to one of the means. We disagree.

          In Washington, a criminal defendant is entitled to a unanimous jury verdict.
Wash. Const, art. I, § 21: State v. Stephens. 93 Wash. 2d 186, 190, 607 P.2d 304

(1980) (citing State v. Badda, 63 Wash. 2d 176, 385 P.2d 859 (1963)).
          This right may also include the right to a unanimous jury
          determination as to the means by which the defendant committed
          the crime when the defendant is charged with (and the jury is
          instructed on) an alternative means crime. In reviewing this type of
          challenge, courts apply the rule that when there is sufficient
          evidence to support each of the alternative means of committing
        3The jury also found that Ahmed had the requisite predicate criminal history necessary to
elevate the DUI from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. This aspect ofthe case is not at issueon
appeal.
No. 71937-8-1/4

       the crime, express jury unanimity as to which means is not
       required. If, however, there is insufficient evidence to support any
       means, a particularized expression of jury unanimity is required.

State v. Owens. 180 Wash. 2d 90, 95, 323 P.3d 1030 (2014);4 accord State v.

Ortega-Martinez. 124 Wash. 2d 702, 707-08, 881 P.2d 231 (1994); In re Pers.

Restraint of Jeffries. 110 Wash. 2d 326, 339-40, 752 P.2d 1338 (1988); State v.

Whitney. 108 Wash. 2d 506, 507, 739 P.2d 1150 (1987); State v. Arndt. 87 Wn.2d.

374, 377, 553 P.2d 1328 (1976).

       The alternative means of committing the offense of driving under the

influence are set forth by the subsections of RCW 46.61.502(1). State v. Franco.

96 Wash. 2d 816, 829, 639 P.2d 1320 (1982); State v. Shabel. 95 Wash. App. 469,

473, 976 P.2d 153 (1999).

       (1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of
       intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug ifthe person drives a
       vehicle within this state:
              (a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an
       alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the
       person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
              (b) The person has, within two hours after driving, a THC
       concentration of 5.00 or higher as shown by analysis of the
       person's blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
              (c) While the person is under the influence of or affected by
       intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug; or
              (d) While the person is under the combined influence of or
       affected by intoxicating liquor, marijuana, and any drug.

RCW 46.61.502.

        4Washington law differs from federal law in this regard. In federal prosecutions, "jury
unanimity is not required as to the means by which a defendantcommits a crime, regardless of
whether there is sufficient evidence to support each of the alternative means." Owens, 180
Wash. 2d at 95 n.2.
No. 71937-8-1/5

       Ahmed was charged pursuant to RCW 46.61.502(1 )(c) and (d).5 The to-

convict instruction given to the jury, provided, in pertinent part:

       (2) That the defendant at the time of driving a motor vehicle
           (a) was under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor
            or a drug; or
            (b) was under the combined influence of or affected by
            intoxicating liquor and a drug.

Jury Instruction 9.

       Ahmed contends that the phrase, "was under the influence of or affected

by intoxicating liquor or a drug," sets forth two alternative means ofviolating the
statute and, consequently, the State must submit sufficient evidence of each in

order to authorize the jury's verdict. We disagree. Previously, faced with the

same argument, we stated, "[t]he Washington Supreme Court has rejected the
application ofthis doctrine [requiring sufficient evidence on each alternative
means] to 'means within means.'" State v. Al-Hamdani. 109 Wash. App. 599, 604,
36P.3d 1103 (2001) (citing Jeffries, 110Wn.2d at 339). Thus, while there may
be alternative means of committing an offense, there is no such thing as "means

within means." Accordingly, the phrase, "was under the influence of or affected

by intoxicating liquor ora drug," sets forth a single alternative means of

        5 Prior to December 6, 2012, RCW 46.61.502(1 )(b) and (c) read "[wjhile the person is
underthe influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug," and "[w]hile the person is
under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug." The legislature
amended the statute on November 6, 2012 and added the "per se" legal limit for THC in
recodified subsection (1)(b), and added the specific references to marijuana in recodified
subsections (1)(c) and (1)(d). Laws of 2013, Ch.3, § 33. Although Ahmed's offense occurred in
2013, the information and jury instructions did not specifically reference "marijuana." This had no
practical effect on Ahmed's prosecution because marijuana isa "drug" as that term isdefined in
RCW 46.61.540.
No. 71937-8-1/6

committing the offense for which sufficient evidence must be adduced to

authorize the jury's verdict.6

                                                 Ill

       The due process clauses of the federal and state constitutions, U.S.

Const, amend. XIV; Wash. Const, art. I, § 3, require that the State prove each

element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Apprendi v. New Jersey. 530
U.S. 466, 476-77, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000). "[T]he critical

inquiry on review of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal

conviction must be ... to determine whether the record evidence could

reasonably support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v.

Virginia. 443 U.S. 307, 318, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979). "[T]he

relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the

essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson. 443 U.S.

at 319.

          A claim of evidentiary insufficiency admits the truth of the State's evidence

and all reasonable inferences from that evidence. State v. Kintz. 169 Wash. 2d 537,

551, 238 P.3d 470 (2010); State v. Salinas. 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068

(1992). Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence can be equally reliable.

          6Thus, pursuant to subsection (c), the State may secure a conviction by proving that the
defendant drove a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or while under the
influence of marijuana orwhile under the influence of any drug. The statute uses the word "or" in
its inclusive disjunctive sense, see Lake v. Woodcreek Homeowners Ass'n, 169 Wash. 2d 516, 528,
243 P.3d 1283 (2010); E. Allan Farnsworth, "Dmeaninq" in the Law of Contracts, 76 Yale L.J.
939, 955 (1967), not in its exclusive disjunctive sense, as urged by Ahmed. Thus, the
prosecution may prove one option without the necessity of disproving all other options.
No. 71937-8-1/7

State v. Delmarter. 94 Wash. 2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 (1980). We defer to the jury

on questions of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the

persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Killingsworth. 166 Wash. App. 283, 287,

269 P.3d 1064 (2012).

       When viewed in the light most favorable to the State, sufficient evidence

was adduced to support a jury finding that Ahmed drove while "under the

influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor" as set forth in Jury Instruction 9,

element (2)(a). Trooper Gruener observed Ahmed driving faster than the speed

limit and drifting out of the lane of travel. When Gruener pulled Ahmed over, he

noted that Ahmed had watery, bloodshot eyes, and slurred his speech.

Additionally, Gruener smelled an odor ofalcohol emanating from both the vehicle
and Ahmed himself, and there was an open container of alcohol in Ahmed's

vehicle. Ahmed admitted to Gruener that he had been drinking, and that he had

"fucked up" and "shouldn't have been driving." His blood contained ethanol at a
level of 0.073. Further, the forensic toxicologist testified that, in her opinion,

Ahmed's behavior was "consistent with someone who is under the influence of

alcohol and/or drugs." (Emphasis added.) Viewing the evidence and all
inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier offact

could have found that Ahmed "was under the influence of or affected by

intoxicating liquor." Accordingly, sufficient evidence was adduced at Ahmed's
trial to support the alternative means ofdriving while "under the influence ofor

                                            7-
No. 71937-8-1/8

affected by intoxicating liquor or a drug," as set forth in Jury Instruction 9,

element 2(a).7

       Sufficient evidence was also adduced to support a jury finding that Ahmed

drove while "under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor

and a drug," as set forth in Jury Instruction 9, element (2)(b). The evidence

presented to the jury, as explicated above, is sufficient to support a finding that

intoxicating liquor contributed to Ahmed being "under the combined influence of

or affected by intoxicating liquor and a drug." As to the effect of a drug, evidence

was presented that Ahmed was "under the influence of or affected by" marijuana,

which is a drug. Ahmed took 35 to 45 seconds to stop his vehicle after Gruener

activated his emergency lights, thus exhibiting time and space distortion, which

forensic toxicologist Swenson testified is an effect of "marijuana ... [and] not

something you would normally see with ethanol." Further, a test of Ahmed's

blood revealed that it contained substantial amounts of THC, and the forensic

toxicologist testified that, in her opinion, the indicators of impairment displayed by

Ahmed were "consistent with someone who is under the influence of alcohol

and/or drugs." (Emphasis added.) Accordingly, sufficient evidence was adduced

at trial to support the alternative means of driving while "under the combined

influence of intoxicating liquor and a drug."

        7Although not necessary for an affirmance, a rational jurorcould also have concluded
that Ahmed drove while under the influence of a drug. Ahmed drove poorly, as described above.
He took 35 to 45 seconds to stop his vehicle after Gruener activated his emergency lights, thus
exhibiting time and space distortion, which forensic toxicologist Swenson testified is an effect of
"marijuana .. . [and] notsomething you would normally see with ethanol." Additionally, Ahmed's
blood contained 3.4 nanograms of THC per milliliter, which is near the legal limit, and expert
testimony established that an individual can be impaired below the legal limit. That same forensic
toxicologist testified that, in her opinion, the indicators of impairment displayed by Ahmed were
"consistent with someone who is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs." (Emphasis added.)

                                                 8
No. 71937-8-1/9

      Affirmed.

                  * J Jyj-^>
We concur:

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