State v. G. Spottedbear , 385 Mont. 68 ( 2016 )

10/04/2016
DA 15-0127
Case Number: DA 15-0127
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2016 MT 243
STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
GALE SPOTTEDBEAR,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Cascade, Cause No. ADC 14-096
Honorable Gregory G. Pinski, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Chad Wright, Chief Appellate Defender, Alexander H. Pyle, Assistant
Appellate Defender, Helena, Montana
For Appellee:
Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, Tammy A. Hinderman,
Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana
John W. Parker, Cascade County Attorney, Amanda L. Lofink, Deputy
County Attorney, Great Falls, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: August 3, 2016
Decided: October 4, 2016
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Beth Baker delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Great Falls Police Officer Mike Walker arrested Gale Spottedbear for disorderly
conduct following a disturbance at Wal-Mart. Spottedbear threatened to kill Officer
Walker and his family after Officer Walker told him that he was also being charged with
criminal trespass—a more serious offense. The State charged Spottedbear with threats
and other improper influence in official matters, criminal trespass, and disorderly
conduct, and a jury convicted him on all three counts. Spottedbear challenges his
conviction on the following grounds: (1) the improper influence statute is
unconstitutionally overbroad—a claim Spottedbear raises for the first time on appeal;
(2) the evidence was insufficient to convict him on either the improper influence or
criminal trespass charge; (3) the court should not have admitted evidence regarding a
prior incident with Officer Walker; and (4) his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
raise the constitutional challenge and for failing to object to the jury instructions on
mental state.
¶2 We affirm the improper influence conviction and reverse the conviction for
criminal trespass.
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
¶3 In late February 2014, Officer Walker responded to a disturbance between
Spottedbear and another customer at a Wal-Mart store in Great Falls, Montana. After
speaking to Janet Sherod, a Wal-Mart staff member, about the situation, Officer Walker
told Spottedbear to leave the store. On his way out, Spottedbear yelled at Sherod, and
Officer Walker arrested him for disorderly conduct.
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¶4 On the way to the detention center, Officer Walker informed Spottedbear that he
was going to charge him with criminal trespass in addition to disorderly conduct.
Spottedbear—who was intoxicated—became more agitated and brought up a previous
incident in which he threatened and assaulted Officer Walker. Spottedbear grew
increasingly belligerent and yelled that he had seen Officer Walker and his wife out in
public since that incident. Spottedbear then repeatedly threatened to kill Officer Walker,
his pregnant wife, and his family.
¶5 Based on Spottedbear’s threats, the State added a charge of improper influence to
the disorderly conduct and criminal trespass charges. Prior to trial, Spottedbear moved to
limit the State’s introduction of evidence regarding the previous incident he had with
Officer Walker. The District Court ruled that the State could elicit testimony about the
prior incident but that it could not bring up that Spottedbear had been convicted of any
crime.
¶6 Officer Walker was the only witness at trial. The jury found Spottedbear guilty on
all three charges. The District Court sentenced Spottedbear as a persistent felony
offender to ten years for the improper influence conviction, six months for the criminal
trespass conviction, and ten days for the disorderly conduct conviction, to run
concurrently. Spottedbear appeals.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
¶7 This Court exercises plenary review over constitutional questions. State v. Dugan,
2013 MT 38, ¶ 14, 369 Mont. 39, 303 P.3d 755. A statute may be deemed
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constitutionally overbroad if it includes within its scope conduct that is protected by the
First Amendment. Dugan, ¶ 52.
¶8 We review questions on the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal matter to
determine whether, after reviewing 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. State v. Weigand, 2005 MT 201, ¶ 7, 328 Mont. 198, 119
P.3d 74. We review a jury’s verdict to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to
support the verdict, not whether the evidence could have supported a different result.
Weigand, ¶ 7. It is within the province of the jury to weigh the evidence based on the
credibility of the witnesses and determine which version of events should prevail.
Weigand, ¶ 7.
¶9 A trial court has broad discretion in determining the relevance and admissibility of
evidence. State v. Derbyshire, 2009 MT 27, ¶ 19, 349 Mont. 114, 201 P.3d 811. Thus,
we review a trial court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. Derbyshire, ¶ 19.
A court abuses its discretion if it acts arbitrarily without the employment of conscientious
judgment or exceeds the bounds of reason, resulting in substantial injustice. Derbyshire,
¶ 19. In exercising its discretion, however, the trial court is bound by the Rules of
Evidence. Derbyshire, ¶ 19. Consequently, to the extent that the court’s ruling is based
on an interpretation of an evidentiary rule, our review is de novo. Derbyshire, ¶ 19.
¶10 Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel present mixed questions of law and fact
that we review de novo. State v. Johnston, 2010 MT 152, ¶ 7, 357 Mont. 46, 237 P.3d
70.
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DISCUSSION
¶11 1. Whether the improper influence statute is unconstitutionally overbroad.
¶12 A person commits the offense of threats and other improper influence in official
matters “if the person purposely or knowingly . . . threatens harm to any person, the
person’s spouse, child, parent, or sibling, or the person’s property with the purpose to
influence the person’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of
discretion as a public servant, party official, or voter.” Section 45-7-102(1)(a)(i), MCA.
¶13 For the first time on appeal, Spottedbear argues that § 45-7-102(1)(a)(i), MCA, is
unconstitutionally overbroad. He asserts that we should review the statute because his
trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to raise the constitutional issue
below, because this Court may exercise plenary review of constitutional rights violations
even where no objection has been made, and because this Court may review an
unconstitutional statute under the plain error doctrine.
¶14 Spottedbear does not challenge the improper influence statute’s constitutionality
as applied to him; he contends instead that the statute is facially overbroad because it
prohibits a substantial amount of protected speech. Spottedbear asserts that the statute’s
language is unconstitutionally overbroad under the First Amendment for three reasons:
(1) the Legislature defines “harm” expansively; (2) the statute is not limited to threats of
unlawful harm; and (3) by focusing on threats of harm aimed at influencing a public
official’s discretion, the statute targets “the type of message that lies at the First
Amendment’s heart.” Thus, Spottedbear asserts that the “statute’s plain language makes
clear that it reaches far beyond proscribing unprotected speech and into proscribing
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speech that is essential to our democracy.” Because the statute’s reach is not limited to
unprotected speech, Spottedbear contends that the statute is distinguishable from statutes
that we have upheld against overbreadth challenges. Spottedbear therefore argues that
we should hold that the statute is unconstitutional and void his improper influence
conviction in the process.
¶15 The overbreadth doctrine “is an exception to the general rule that statutes are
evaluated in light of the situation and facts before the court.” State v. Lilburn, 265 Mont.
258, 264, 875 P.2d 1036, 1040 (1994). Under the doctrine, a statute that “can be applied
to constitutionally protected speech and expression may be found to be invalid in its
entirety, even if it could validly apply to the situation before the court.” Lilburn, 265
Mont. at 264, 875 P.2d at 1040. We have made clear, however, that a statute is
unconstitutionally overbroad only if its overbreadth is not only “‘real, but substantial as
well, judged in relation to the statute’s plainly legitimate sweep.’” Lilburn, 265 Mont. at
264-65, 875 P.2d at 1040 (quoting Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 615, 93 S. Ct.
2908, 2918 (1973)).
¶16 The test for overbreadth therefore “is not whether hypothetical remote situations
exist, but whether there is a significant possibility that the law will be unconstitutionally
applied.” Lilburn, 265 Mont. at 269, 875 P.2d at 1043 (citing Broadrick, 413 U.S. at 615,
93 S. Ct. at 2917-18). “In short, there must be a realistic danger that the statute itself will
significantly compromise recognized First Amendment protections of parties not before
the Court for it to be facially challenged on overbreadth grounds.” Lilburn, 265 Mont. at
269, 875 P.2d at 1041 (quoting Members of the City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent,
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466 U.S. 789, 800-01, 104 S. Ct. 2118, 2126 (1984) (hereafter Vincent)). When there is
no realistic danger or significant possibility that First Amendment protections will be
meaningfully compromised, we have held consistently that any unconstitutional
application of a statute should be addressed on a “case-by-case” basis. E.g., Mont.
Supreme Court Comm’n on the Unauthorized Practice of Law v. O’Neil, 2006 MT 284,
¶ 78, 334 Mont. 311, 147 P.3d 200; State v. Nye, 283 Mont. 505, 515, 943 P.2d 96, 103
(1997); State v. Ross, 269 Mont. 347, 356, 889 P.2d 161, 166 (1995); Lilburn, 265 Mont.
at 270, 875 P.2d at 1044.
¶17 We are unpersuaded by Spottedbear’s claim that his trial counsel rendered
ineffective assistance by failing to raise the statute’s alleged overbreadth below. In
assessing whether counsel’s performance was deficient, we look to “whether counsel’s
conduct fell below an objective standard of reasonableness measured under prevailing
professional norms and in light of the surrounding circumstances.” Whitlow v. State,
2008 MT 140, ¶ 20, 343 Mont. 90, 180 P.3d 861. Spottedbear asserts that his counsel
had “no plausible” justification for failing to raise a constitutional challenge because it
would have ended Spottedbear’s prosecution at its inception. But § 45-7-102(1)(a)(i),
MCA, serves a plainly legitimate purpose—to deter people from threatening harm to a
public servant in order to influence that person’s actions as a public servant. Spottedbear
acknowledges that his conduct falls within the statute’s legitimate sweep. Given these
surrounding circumstances, and our overbreadth precedent discussed above,
Spottedbear’s trial counsel reasonably may have concluded that an overbreadth challenge
to the statute would not have been successful.
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¶18 Indeed, when compared “to the statute’s plainly legitimate sweep,” Spottedbear
would have a high hurdle to clear in showing how the statute adversely affects the rights
of others in a “real” and “substantial” way. Lilburn, 265 Mont. at 264-65, 875 P.2d at
1040. Although Spottedbear points to “hypothetical remote situations” in which the
statute could be applied unconstitutionally, he would have to have demonstrated a
“realistic danger” or “a significant possibility that the law will be unconstitutionally
applied.” Lilburn, 265 Mont. at 265, 269, 875 P.2d at 1041, 1043. “[T]he mere fact that
[Spottedbear’s appellate counsel] can conceive of some impermissible applications of
[the] statute,” Lilburn, 265 Mont. at 265, 875 P.2d at 1041 (quoting Vincent, 466 U.S. at
800-01, 104 S. Ct. at 2126), is insufficient to overcome the “strong presumption that
[trial] counsel’s conduct [fell] within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance,” Whitlow, ¶ 21.
¶19 The State prosecuted Spottedbear for conduct that plainly came within the
statute’s legitimate sweep. Whether threatening harm under the statute would apply
properly to the hypothetical situations Spottedbear presents on appeal “is irrelevant. That
was not the conduct for which he was convicted, and we do not find it necessary to
address that argument.” Nye, 283 Mont. at 516, 943 P.2d at 103. We decline to consider
the statute’s alleged overbreadth in this appeal. “To the extent that the statute may reach
constitutionally protected expression,” any constitutional deficiencies not implicated by
Spottedbear’s case can be addressed at that time. Lilburn, 265 Mont. at 270, 875 P.2d at
1044.
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¶20 2. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence that Spottedbear threatened
harm to Officer Walker with the purpose to influence Officer Walker’s discretion.
¶21 Spottedbear contends that the State did not present sufficient evidence to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that he threatened Officer Walker with the requisite “purpose
to influence” Officer Walker’s discretion. Relying on State v. Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont.
183, 948 P.2d 209 (1997), Spottedbear emphasizes that he was “belligerent and
uncooperative” before and after Officer Walker showed up and that his threats toward
Officer Walker were “a continuation” of his “belligerent attitude.” Accordingly,
Spottedbear asserts that there is no evidence in the record upon which the jury could find
that, “but for [Spottedbear’s] purported purpose to influence Officer Walker’s official
discretion, he would not have threatened Officer Walker.”
¶22 Relying on State v. Motarie, 2004 MT 285, 323 Mont. 304, 100 P.3d 135, and
State v. Keating, 285 Mont. 463, 949 P.2d 251 (1997), the State contends that
Spottedbear did not have to explicitly condition his threats in order to be convicted under
the improper influence statute. The State asserts that the jury reasonably could have
inferred from the evidence presented that Spottedbear threatened Officer Walker with the
purpose to influence Officer Walker’s charging discretion. The State points to the fact
that Spottedbear did not threaten Officer Walker until he learned that Officer Walker
intended to charge him with criminal trespass. The State alleges that Spottedbear’s
reliance on Plenty Hawk is misplaced because that case is factually distinguishable.
Finally, the State asserts that while the evidence could have supported a contrary
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conclusion, it does not follow that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s
verdict.
¶23 The improper influence statute prohibits “threaten[ing] harm” to a public servant
or to a public servant’s family or property “with the purpose to influence” that person’s
actions as a public servant. Section 45-7-102(1)(a)(i), MCA. To show purpose, the State
had to prove that it was Spottedbear’s “conscious object” to influence Officer Walker’s
discretion. Section 45-2-101(65), MCA. Accordingly, the State had the burden of
proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Spottedbear not only threatened Officer Walker
with harm, but that he did so with the conscious object to influence Officer Walker’s
actions as a public servant. While each element of an offense must be proven by
sufficient evidence, Weigand, ¶ 7, “[t]he elements of a charged offense are factual in
nature and their existence must be determined by the jury,” State v. Gladue, 1999 MT 1,
¶ 40, 293 Mont. 1, 972 P.2d 827.
¶24 We have consistently held that “circumstantial evidence alone is sufficient to
obtain a conviction.” State v. Clausell, 2001 MT 62, ¶ 31, 305 Mont. 1, 22 P.3d 1111
(quoting State v. Lancione, 1998 MT 84, ¶ 37, 288 Mont. 228, 956 P.2d 1358) (internal
quotations omitted). A person’s mental state “is rarely susceptible of direct or positive
proof and therefore must usually be inferred from the facts testified to by witnesses and
the circumstances as developed by the evidence.” Clausell, ¶ 31 (citation and internal
quotations omitted). As such, whether a defendant acted with purpose “may be inferred
from circumstantial evidence such as the acts of the accused and the facts and
circumstances surrounding the offense.” Clausell, ¶ 31. Such evidence “need only be of
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sufficient quality and quantity to legally justify a jury in finding guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt, taking into consideration all of the facts and circumstances surrounding
the charged offense collectively.” Clausell, ¶ 31.
¶25 In Plenty Hawk, we addressed whether there was sufficient evidence to sustain
Plenty Hawk’s conviction of intimidation under § 45-5-203, MCA. Plenty Hawk, 285
Mont. at 186, 948 P.2d at 210-11. Similar to here, Plenty Hawk argued that the State
failed to present evidence that his threats towards a deputy were made “with the purpose
to cause another to perform or to omit the performance of any act.” Plenty Hawk, 285
Mont. at 186, 948 P.2d at 211 (quoting § 45-5-203(1), MCA). The evidence established
that Plenty Hawk was intoxicated, combative, and belligerent when deputies and
ambulance personnel first approached him lying in a roadway. Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont.
at 184, 948 P.2d at 209-10. Plenty Hawk continued his combative behavior after being
assured “that he was not under arrest” and being placed in a holding cell to be cleaned up
and examined more thoroughly. Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at 184, 948 P.2d at 210. After
Plenty Hawk “took a swing” at an ambulance attendant who was attempting to take his
pulse in the holding cell, a deputy informed Plenty Hawk “that he was under arrest for the
charge of Intoxicated Pedestrian and that he would be spending the night in jail.” Plenty
Hawk, 285 Mont. at 184-85, 948 P.2d at 210. During the booking process, Plenty Hawk
challenged a deputy to a fight and “declared that as soon as he got out of jail he was
going to kick [the deputy’s] ass and terrorize [him] and his family.” Plenty Hawk, 285
Mont. at 185, 948 P.2d at 210. Plenty Hawk apologized for his behavior the next day.
Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at 185, 948 P.2d at 210.
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¶26 The State contended “that Plenty Hawk’s purpose in making the threats was to
cause [the deputy] to release him.” Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at 186, 948 P.2d at 211. In
concluding that there was “no evidence in the record that the threats were made for any
particular purpose,” we noted that Plenty Hawk “was belligerent and uncooperative from
the time” the deputy approached him and that he was combative with ambulance
attendants “prior to being informed he was under arrest.” Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at
186, 948 P.2d at 211. We opined that “Plenty Hawk was simply drunk and belligerent”
and that “[a]t no time did Plenty Hawk state what act he might want [the deputy] to do or
to omit and the State has provided no evidence to show what specific act Plenty Hawk
was seeking to have done or omitted.” Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at 187, 948 P.2d at 211.
We therefore held that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict on the
intimidation charge. Plenty Hawk, 285 Mont. at 187, 948 P.2d at 211.
¶27 In Motarie, we addressed whether the State had proven that Motarie acted with the
requisite purpose under §§ 45-5-203(1) and 45-7-206(1), MCA. Motarie, ¶ 5. In that
case, Motarie called Iverson, who had reported him for allegedly poaching an elk, and
threatened to kill Iverson prior to Motarie’s trial. Motarie, ¶¶ 2-3. Motarie relied on
Plenty Hawk in arguing that the State failed to provide evidence of his purpose in making
the threats. Motarie, ¶ 7. We distinguished Plenty Hawk by noting that “Plenty Hawk
was behind bars when he” threatened the deputy. Motarie, ¶ 6. We differentiated our
holding in Plenty Hawk further, explaining that, “[b]y threatening the deputy with
violence once released from his cell, Plenty Hawk would have made the deputy even
more disposed to leaving Plenty Hawk in the cell.” Motarie, ¶ 6.
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¶28 We noted that the record in Motarie spoke “of a more invidious purpose” because
“Iverson was the central witness to the State’s poaching case against Motarie.” Motarie,
¶ 7. We reaffirmed that, as a state of mind, criminal intent “is rarely susceptible of direct
or positive proof and therefore must usually be inferred from the facts testified to by
witnesses and the circumstances as developed by the evidence.” Motarie, ¶ 8 (citation
and internal quotations omitted). We concluded, therefore, that “[s]een in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable jury could have determined that Motarie
intended to stop Iverson from continuing his cooperation in Motarie’s prosecution and,
thus, he had the requisite purpose” under the statutes. Motarie, ¶ 8.
¶29 Similarly, in Keating, we upheld a conviction of improper influence under § 45-7-
102(1)(a)(i), MCA. Keating, 285 Mont. at 477, 949 P.2d at 259. In that case, officers
attempted to serve Keating with process and he told them to leave his property. Keating,
285 Mont. at 469, 949 P.2d at 254. After the officers left, Keating called 911 and
threatened to kill any officer who entered his property. Keating, 285 Mont. at 469, 949
P.2d at 254-55. On appeal, Keating argued “that the State did not establish that his threat
to kill officers coming on his property to serve process was made for the purpose of
influencing an exercise of discretion.” Keating, 285 Mont. at 477, 949 P.2d at 260. In
upholding Keating’s conviction, we noted that “Keating started yelling when told the
purpose of the [officers’] visit,” and that Keating made the threats shortly after the
officers left. Keating, 285 Mont. at 479-80, 949 P.2d at 261. We concluded:
The evidence regarding Keating’s awareness of the [officers’] reason for
being at his residence . . . and his threat after the [officers] attempted to
serve him with process was sufficient to permit the jury to infer that
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Keating purposely or knowingly threatened the [officers] with the purpose
to influence their exercise of discretion regarding where and when to
accomplish service of process on him.
Keating, 285 Mont. at 480, 949 P.2d at 261.
¶30 Similar to Plenty Hawk, the evidence here establishes that Spottedbear was
intoxicated and agitated when Officer Walker first approached him. The evidence also
shows, however, that unlike in Plenty Hawk, Spottedbear was not combative with the
officer prior to being placed under arrest. The evidence establishes further that
Spottedbear did not begin threatening Officer Walker until after Officer Walker informed
Spottedbear that he was going to charge him with criminal trespass. At that point,
Spottedbear became more agitated and brought up the previous incident in which he had
assaulted Officer Walker. Spottedbear then yelled that he had seen Officer Walker and
his “fat fucking wife” out in public. After Officer Walker advised him to be quiet,
Spottedbear then yelled, multiple times: “I will fucking kill you, your fat wife and your
whole family.”
¶31 Plenty Hawk’s threats to kill the officer after he got out of jail could have made
the officer even more disposed to keep Plenty Hawk in jail. Motarie, ¶ 6. Here, in
contrast—viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution—the jury
could have found that Spottedbear thought that his threats to kill Officer Walker and his
family might influence Officer Walker’s decision to actually charge him with criminal
trespass. Moreover, unlike in Plenty Hawk, the State introduced evidence showing as
much. Officer Walker testified that he still had discretion and the ability to decide
whether he was going to cite Spottedbear for criminal trespass at the time Spottedbear
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threatened him and his family. Officer Walker testified that Spottedbear’s threats
concerned him because he had seen Spottedbear near his house, his wife was seven
months pregnant, and Spottedbear had previously assaulted him. Finally, Officer Walker
testified that intoxicated people had threatened him in the past, but that this time was
different because it was the first time anyone had ever threatened his family, and
Spottedbear made clear that he had seen Officer Walker and his wife in public.
¶32 True, Spottedbear did not explicitly state the condition upon which his threats
were based. But such direct proof is unnecessary to show Spottedbear’s purpose to
influence, which could “be inferred from the facts testified to by witnesses and the
circumstances as developed by the evidence.” Motarie, ¶ 8; Clausell, ¶ 31; see Keating,
285 Mont. at 479-80, 949 P.2d at 261. Although the evidence could have supported a
finding that Spottedbear was generally belligerent and did not have the purpose to
influence Officer Walker’s discretion, our inquiry on appeal is whether “sufficient
evidence exists to support the verdict.” Weigand, ¶ 7. The jury weighed the conflicting
evidence based on Officer Walker’s credibility and determined that the State’s version of
the events should prevail. Weigand, ¶ 7. Such a determination is “exclusively within the
province of the trier of fact.” State v. Bower, 254 Mont. 1, 8, 833 P.2d 1106, 1111
(1992).
¶33 We conclude, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
that any rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that
Spottedbear threatened Officer Walker and his family with the purpose to influence
Officer Walker’s discretion in charging him with criminal trespass. Accordingly, the
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State presented sufficient evidence to convict Spottedbear of improper influence under
§ 45-7-102(1)(a)(i), MCA.
¶34 3. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to convict Spottedbear of
criminal trespass.
¶35 Criminal trespass to property requires the State to show that “(1) a ‘person
knowingly,’ (2) ‘enters or remains unlawfully in,’ (3) an ‘occupied structure’ or ‘the
premises of another.’” State v. Robertson, 2014 MT 279, ¶ 19, 376 Mont. 471, 336 P.3d
367 (quoting § 45-6-203(1), MCA). A person who is “licensed, invited, or otherwise
privileged to do so” cannot be convicted of criminal trespass. Section 45-6-201(1),
MCA; Robertson, ¶¶ 19, 24. Such privilege, however, “may be revoked at any time by
personal communication of notice by the landowner or other authorized person to the
entering person.” Section 45-6-201(1), MCA. A person “remains unlawfully” pursuant
to statute—and therefore commits criminal trespass—if the person remains upon the
premises after his or her privilege is revoked. Sections 45-6-201(1), -203(1), MCA.
¶36 Spottedbear asserts that he—along with all members of the public—had a license
to be in the Wal-Mart store. Accordingly, Spottedbear contends, “to secure a trespass
conviction in a case where a person at one time had a license to be on a property, the
State must present adequate proof that the landowner or another authorized person
revoked the license.” Spottedbear argues that the State presented no evidence that an
authorized person revoked his license to be in the store. Spottedbear notes that Officer
Walker—who was the only witness at the trial—testified that he, and not an authorized
person, told Spottedbear to leave the property.
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¶37 The State does not dispute that Spottedbear had a license to be at the store. The
State argues, however, that it presented evidence that a store employee called the police
and the store’s manager informed Officer Walker of Spottedbear’s behavior in the store.
At that point, Officer Walker advised Spottedbear to leave. Thus, the State contends that
“a rational jury could have inferred that the manager not only desired that Spottedbear
leave the store but that she authorized the officers to notify him that his privilege to
remain in the store had been revoked and to escort him from the store on her behalf.”
¶38 Officer Walker testified that he spoke with Janet Sherod upon arriving at the
scene. He testified further that after speaking to Sherod, he advised Spottedbear to leave
the premises. On cross-examination, Officer Walker testified that Sherod told him that
“her employees” had called the police because another customer had accused Spottedbear
of shoplifting and that an argument ensued. Officer Walker testified further that Sherod
told him that Spottedbear had been yelling and swearing inside the store.
¶39 Although a jury could infer from Officer Walker’s testimony that an authorized
person revoked Spottedbear’s license to be at Wal-Mart, the State presented no evidence
that Spottedbear remained unlawfully after his privilege was revoked. Officer Walker
testified that after asking Spottedbear to leave, Spottedbear walked towards the exit,
turned around and yelled at Sherod, and was then placed under arrest. Even viewing this
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we conclude that no rational trier
of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Spottedbear remained
unlawfully after Officer Walker directed him to leave. Accordingly, we conclude that the
State did not present sufficient evidence to convict Spottedbear of criminal trespass.
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¶40 4. Whether the District Court properly admitted evidence of Spottedbear’s prior
incident with Officer Walker.
¶41 Spottedbear filed a motion in limine seeking to limit the admission of evidence
relating to his prior incident with Officer Walker. Spottedbear argued that such evidence
had little probative value when weighed against the high likelihood of substantial
prejudice to Spottedbear. In addressing Spottedbear’s motion, the court stated in open
court that details regarding the prior incident were
fair game except the conviction . . . . So I don’t want any testimony that
he’s actually convicted of any crimes in . . . the prior incident involving
Officer Walker. So all of the other circumstances surrounding the offenses
are admissible, but the actual conviction itself, I think you can get in
everything you need under [M. R. Evid.] 404(b) without . . . admitting
evidence of the actual conviction. . . .
And for the record, under Rule 404(b), . . . the Court finds that the evidence
of the actual convictions would be unduly prejudicial, would confuse the
issues, and are unnecessary in order to show the knowledge, intent and
motive that the State is trying to prove.
Before the State introduced the evidence of the prior incident during trial, the Court read
the following limiting instruction to the jury:
The State will now offer evidence that the Defendant at another time
engaged in other wrongs or acts. That evidence is not admitted to prove the
character of the Defendant, or to show he acted in conformity therewith.
The only purpose of admitting that evidence is to show proof of motive,
opportunity, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
You may not use that evidence for any other purpose.
The Defendant is not being tried for that other wrong or act. He may not be
convicted for any other offense than that charged in this case. For the jury
to convict a Defendant of any other offense than that charged in this case
may result in unjust double punishment of the Defendant.
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Both the State and Spottedbear’s counsel questioned Officer Walker about the prior
incident and discussed the prior incident in their closing arguments to support their
respective arguments. The District Court gave the limiting instruction again prior to the
closing arguments.
¶42 On appeal, Spottedbear contends that the District Court improperly allowed the
State to present evidence of his prior incident with Officer Walker. Spottedbear asserts
that the prior incident was not relevant and was thus inadmissible under the Montana
Rules of Evidence. Spottedbear asserts further that the incident’s probative value “was
extremely limited if not non-existent under the theory argued by the State” because it
showed that physically assaulting Officer Walker—let alone just threatening him—would
not influence his discretion, and the State’s assertion that it was relevant to demonstrate
the severity of Spottedbear’s threats was misplaced because the severity of the threat is
not an element of improper influence.
¶43 More, Spottedbear alleges, the prior incident’s probative value was outweighed by
its danger of unfair prejudice. Spottedbear argues that the message that the prior incident
sent to the jury was that “Spottedbear is someone who follows through with his threats of
violence.” By focusing on the prior incident and the severity of his threats, Spottedbear
asserts, the “State’s argument invited the jury to ignore the law and convict on an
improper basis.” Finally, Spottedbear contends that the District Court’s limiting
instruction did not minimize the prejudice caused by the prior incident’s admission,
especially when “the State’s theory of relevance was unintuitive and risked much unfair
prejudice.”
19
¶44 Generally, “[a]ll relevant evidence is admissible” unless otherwise provided by
law. M. R. Evid. 402. Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence
of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less
probable than it would be without the evidence.” M. R. Evid. 401. M. R. Evid. 404(b),
however, places a limitation on the admission of otherwise relevant evidence of “other
crimes, wrongs, or acts . . . to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith.” Nevertheless, prior act evidence may “be admissible for other
purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” M. R. Evid. 404(b). In other words,
“[e]vidence of prior bad acts is not admissible if it is offered for a purpose that requires
the inference from bad act to bad person to guilty person, but may be admissible if it
proves a material issue without requiring any inference to the defendant’s criminal
disposition.” State v. Franks, 2014 MT 273, ¶ 14, 376 Mont. 431, 335 P.3d 725
(citations and internal quotations omitted).
¶45 Even if such evidence “is offered for a valid non-propensity purpose, M. R. Evid.
404(b) may require its exclusion if the nature of the evidence might tempt the jury to
decide the case against the defendant on an improper propensity basis.” Franks, ¶ 15
(citation and internal quotations omitted).
In this way, M. R. Evid. 404(b) must be viewed in concert with M. R. Evid.
403, which allows the exclusion of relevant evidence if its probative value
is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Evidence
that is offered for a valid purpose under M. R. Evid. 404(b) is still subject
to the balancing test prescribed by M. R. Evid. 403.
20
Franks, ¶ 15 (citing State v. Stewart, 2012 MT 317, ¶ 67, 367 Mont. 503, 291 P.3d 1187).
M. R. Evid. 403, in turn, “does not require the exclusion of relevant evidence simply
because it is prejudicial.” Stewart, ¶ 68. Rather, the rule “confers discretion on the trial
judge to exclude relevant evidence that poses a danger of ‘unfair’ prejudice, but only if
the danger of unfair prejudice ‘substantially outweigh[s]’ the evidence’s probative
value.” Stewart, ¶ 68 (quoting M. R. Evid. 403). The danger of unfair prejudice
substantially outweighs probative value “when the evidence will prompt the jury to
decide the case on an improper basis.” Stewart, ¶ 68 (citation omitted). A district court
has “broad discretion to admit or exclude evidence under M. R. Evid. 403.” State v.
Pulst, 2015 MT 184, ¶ 21, 379 Mont. 494, 351 P.3d 687.
¶46 Under M. R. Evid. 404(b), the State could not use evidence of the prior incident to
prove Spottedbear’s character in order to show that he acted “in conformity therewith.”
As the District Court noted, however, the prior incident could be used under M. R. Evid.
404(b) “in order to show the knowledge, intent and motive that the State [was] trying to
prove.” Our review of the record establishes that the State used the prior evidence for
just such a purpose. Spottedbear’s arguments to the contrary are belied by the fact that
during the trial he used the prior incident to argue that he did not threaten Officer Walker
with the purpose to influence Officer Walker’s discretion. In fact, Spottedbear used the
prior incident to demonstrate that he had a propensity for making such threats and knew
that threats would not influence Officer Walker. The prior incident, therefore, was used
by both parties to persuade the jury in determining Spottedbear’s purpose under § 45-7-
102(1)(a)(i), MCA. Spottedbear has not demonstrated that the danger of unfair prejudice
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from introducing evidence of the prior incident substantially outweighed the evidence’s
probative value. Accordingly, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its
discretion in allowing evidence of the prior incident under M. R. Evid. 403 and 404(b).
¶47 5. Whether Spottedbear’s trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶48 Spottedbear asserts that his trial counsel’s failure to object to the State’s definition
of “purpose” compromised the improper influence verdict, and constitutes ineffective
assistance of counsel. Spottedbear points out that the District Court instructed the jury
that “[a] person acts purposely, or with a purpose, when it is the person’s conscious
object to engage in conduct of that nature.” Such an instruction, Spottedbear contends,
fails to adequately instruct the jury on the meaning of “purpose” as used in § 45-7-
102(1)(a)(i), MCA, because the statute requires that a person act purposely to cause a
result, not to engage in conduct. Spottedbear argues that his counsel’s failure to object to
the State’s jury instruction on “purpose” is “glaring and lacks plausible justification” and
represents a “failure to use the law to bolster [his] theory of the case.” As such,
Spottedbear contends that his counsel’s failure to object “lessened the State’s burden”
and prejudiced him. Spottedbear contends further that “[t]here is a reasonable possibility
that, but for trial-counsel’s failure to procure proper instruction, the trial would have
ended differently,” which requires a new trial.
¶49 We apply a two-part test in analyzing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.
It requires a defendant to “demonstrate (1) that counsel’s representation was deficient and
(2) that counsel’s deficiency was prejudicial by establishing that there was a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
22
different.” Johnston, ¶ 15. A defendant must satisfy both prongs of this test “in order to
prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim; thus, an insufficient showing on one
prong negates the need to address the other.” State v. Mitchell, 2012 MT 227, ¶ 21, 366
Mont. 379, 286 P.3d 1196. The inquiry under the second prong “focuses on whether
counsel’s deficient performance renders the trial result unreliable or the proceeding
fundamentally unfair.” Mitchell, ¶ 22.
¶50 We decline to consider whether Spottedbear’s counsel provided deficient
representation by failing to object to the District Court’s “purpose” instruction.
Spottedbear has not established that there was a reasonable probability that, but for his
counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been different had a result-based
definition of purpose been given. The District Court instructed the jury as follows:
To convict the Defendant of the charge of threat and other improper
influence in official matters, the State must prove the following elements:
1. That the Defendant threatened harm to Officer Walker, his spouse, child,
parent, or sibling:
AND
2. That the Defendant did so with the purpose to influence the exercise of
discretion as a public servant[.]
This instruction made clear that Spottedbear had to act with the “purpose to influence.”
Even with the conduct-based definition of “purpose,” Spottedbear has not, and cannot,
demonstrate that the District Court’s instruction “renders the trial result unreliable or the
proceeding fundamentally unfair.” Mitchell, ¶ 22.
23
CONCLUSION
¶51 We affirm Spottedbear’s conviction of improper influence and reverse his
conviction of criminal trespass. The case is remanded for entry of an amended judgment
in accordance with this Opinion.
/S/ BETH BAKER
We concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
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