Court Opinion

ID: 4079312
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-04 15:37:16.69363+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:17.744794
License: Public Domain

FILED.
                                                                OCTOBER 4, 2016
                                                           In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                          WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                               DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          )         No. 33208-0-111
                                              )
                     Respondent,              )
                                              )
       V.                                     )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                              )
MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS,                          )
                                              )
                     Appellant.               )

       PENNELL, J. - Michael Phillips appeals his rape conviction, arguing the State

produced insufficient evidence of forcible compulsion. We affirm.

                                         FACTSI

       While working as a prostitute, the victim, R.N., arranged to perform oral sex on

Mr. Phillips. After R.N. demanded payment, Mr. Phillips reached into his coat pocket

and pulled out a gun. He told R.N. to get him off or he would "put a bullet in [her] head."

2 Excerpt Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Dec. 17, 2014) at 195. R.N. then complied.

She also submitted to vaginal sex and resumed oral sex when Mr. Phillips could not reach

       1
        Because Mr. Phillips's challenge goes to the sufficiency of the evidence, we
construe the facts in the light most favorable to the State. State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d
192,201, 892 P.2d 1068 (1992).
No. 33208-0-III
State v. Phillips

full erection. After he was unable to ejaculate, Mr. Phillips allowed R.N. to leave. She

then called police. Mr. Phillips was arrested a short time later. A realistic-looking B.B.

gun was found on his person.

       At trial on charges of first degree rape, Mr. Phillips testified he had consensual sex

with R.N. He claimed she made the rape report in retaliation for being stiffed payment.

He denied ever purposefully showing R.N. his B.B. gun. The jury found Mr. Phillips

guilty. He appeals.

                                       ANALYSIS

       Mr. Phillips argues the State produced insufficient evidence of forcible

compulsion, a required element of first degree rape. RCW 9A.44.040. Consent

necessarily negates the element of forcible compulsion. Thus, when a defendant produces

sufficient evidence of consent, the State must prove lack of consent beyond a reasonable

doubt. State v. W.R., 181 Wn.2d 757, 770-71, 336 P.3d 1134 (2014). 2

       Assuming Mr. Phillips put on sufficient evidence to show consent, his argument

fails. Mr. Phillips's case turned on witness credibility. The jury was entitled to believe

       2
         The trial court instructed the jury on each element the State had to prove of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt, but the court did not include an instruction on consent.
However, Mr. Phillips only challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. He does not argue
instructional error.

                                             2
No. 33208-0-III
State v. Phillips

R.N.'s testimony that Mr. Phillips threatened her with a gun and that she feared violence

if she did not perform to his satisfaction. See State v. Bright, 129 Wn.2d 257, 265-68,

916 P .2d 922 ( 1996). Nothing further was required to show lack of consent. State v.

Thomas, 9 Wn. App. 160,163,510 P.2d 1137 (1973).

                                     CONCLUSION

       The judgment and sentence of the trial court is affirmed.

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

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

                                          Pennell, J.
WE CONCUR:

                                    j

                                             3