State of Washington v. David F. Arch ( 2016 )

FILED
JANUARY 5, 2016
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
W A State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 32697-7-111
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
DAVID F. ARCH, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
FEARING, 1. ­ David Arch appeals from his convictions for attempting to elude a
.l
police officer and driving with a license suspended in the third degree. We reverse the
former conviction and affirm the latter conviction.
FACTS
On May 30, 2013, Washington State Patrol Trooper Lex Lindquist patrolled
Highway 97 near Tonasket. He drove a Chevy Caprice fully marked white state patrol
car with a light bar on top and door seals.
After completing a traffic stop, Trooper Lex Lindquist drove southbound on
Highway 97. As he drove, Lindquist saw a black Mercedes traveling in the opposite
direction at a speed of 80 m.p.h. in a 60 m.p.h. zone. David Arch drove the Mercedes.
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
Lindquist executed a U-turn and chased the Mercedes, which accelerated beyond 80
m.p.h. Lindquist activated his siren, overhead emergency light bar, and wigwag
headlights. The Mercedes accelerated to over 145 m.p.h. and passed several vehicles.
Lindquist eventually reached within ten car lengths of the Mercedes and maintained a
speed of 13 7 m.p.h. with the Mercedes for approximately one mile.
Also on May 30, 2013, United States Border Patrol Agent Louis Koler drove a
marked Border Patrol truck southbound on Highway 97. As Agent Koler travelled
through a bend in the road, he observed the preceding car suddenly brake and swerve to
the highway's right shoulder. Koler parroted the action taken by the forward car and
avoided a collision with the black Mercedes as it drove northbound in the southbound
lane and traveled between 90 and 100 m.p.h. Koler observed that the Mercedes entered
the opposing lane in order to maintain control around the comer. Seconds later Agent
Koler saw Trooper Lindquist's state patrol car execute the comer with lights blinking and
siren blaring. Koler turned around, engaged his truck's emergency lights, and joined the
pursuit.
Trooper Lex Lindquist pursued the black Mercedes for twelve miles, after which
the Mercedes slowed to between 20 and 25 m.p.h. and the car's driver waved his hand
through the car's sunroof. Lindquist disabled his siren and issued commands through his
patrol car's loudspeaker to the Mercedes driver. David Arch pointed from the driver's
side window to a dirt driveway. Arch turned the Mercedes into the driveway, drove
2
No. 32697-7-II1
State v. Arch
across railroad tracks, and parked his car at his residence along Highway 97.
Trooper Lex Lindquist drew his pistol and ordered David Arch to exit the black
Mercedes. Arch complied. Lindquist handcuffed, searched, and read Miranda warnings
to Arch. Arch told Lindquist that he fled because he did not want his car impounded
because Florida and Georgia had suspended his respective state's driver's licenses.
Lindquist confirmed the license suspensions with dispatch and transported Arch to jail.
PROCEDURE
The State of Washington charged David Arch with one count of attempting to
elude a pursuing police vehicle and one count of driving while license suspended or
revoked (DWLS) in the third degree. By an amended information, the State alleged the
second count as follows:
On or about May 30, 2013, in the County of Okanogan, State of
Washington, the above-named Defendant did drive a motor vehicle when
his or her driver's license or driving privilege was suspended or revoked
solely because the person has committed an offense in another state(s) that,
if committed in this state, would not be grounds for the suspens ion or
revocation ofthe person's driver's license; contrary to Revised Code of
Washington 46.20.342(1)(c).
Clerk's Papers (CP) at 136 (emphasis added).
The prosecution proceeded to a jury trial. On opening day, David Arch stipulated:
That on May 30, 2013, my license was suspended in the States of
Florida and Georgia due to commission of offenses, that if committed in
Washington State, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of my
Washington State driver's license.
3
No. 32697-7-II1
State v. Arch
Ex. 11 (emphasis added). Note that the stipulation conflicts with the amended
charges that allege David Arch committed an offense in another state that, if
committed in Washington, would not be grounds for suspension or revocation of a
driver's license.
State Trooper Lex Lindquist testified at trial but did not state he wore a uniform at
the time he pursued or arrested David Arch. Trooper Lindquist testified that he drove a
white state patrol car with a light bar on top and door seals. Lindquist stated that, when
he stopped Arch, he holstered his weapon and placed Arch in handcuffs while Arch lay
on the ground.
Richard Letteer, a Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) employee,
testified that DOL mailed David Arch a letter on July 5, 2012. The letter notified Arch
that Washington would cancel his driver's license due to his suspension in another state.
DOL cancelled Arch's license on August 20,2012. At trial, Letteer confirmed, according
to a certified copy of Arch's driving record, that Arch's driver's license remained
suspended on May 30, 2013. The State did not ask for admission of the certified copy of
Arch's driving record as an exhibit.
During trial, David Arch testified that he did not see the state patrol car's
emergency lights because of a defective driver side mirror on the black Mercedes. Arch
added that he did not hear the patrol car's siren because he loudly listened to a Barry
White song on the Mercedes car stereo. Arch stated that he first saw the patrol car when
4
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
he was one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards from his house.
David Arch and the State of Washington presented each's respective proposed
jury instructions to the court. During the instruction conference, the trial court noted that
the instructions proposed by both sides incorrectly stated the elements and definition of
driving with a suspended license in the third degree:
[TRIAL COURT]: One thing, Mr. Sloan, that we caught in the
elements for driving while suspended third but we didn't catch it in the
definition, the word "not" is (inaudible) both of your-
MR. SLOAN [Prosecution]: Correct. I printed out a new
elements-
MR. BLOUNT [Defense] : Yes.
THE COURT: Okay-
MR. SLOAN: -in what I submitted yesterday I had (inaudible) the
word-I took the word "not" out.
It's interesting; I was going back-looking at the statute this
morning. The statute actually under third degree has the-the word "not."
The elements does-instruction does not. Technically,-it makes it second
degree.
THE COURT: I think you're right.
MR. SLOAN: So,-argument, we would-we would ask to leave
the-the "not" out, because I think it's clear to the jury and it's definitely
it's-third degree-likely it's second degree. But it is at a minimum third
degree. And I still think it's a correct statement of the law in this case.
Report of Proceedings (RP) at 181-82.
[TRIAL COURT]: Mr. Blount, your thoughts about that?
MR. BLOUNT: On the-third degree, I would believe that-the­
on the elements that it should-that-"not" should not be there. So I'm in
agreement with Mr. Sloan.
THE COURT: Okay. But isn't it-isn't it-isn't there a conflict if
it's included in the definition but not in the elements?
MR. BLOUNT: Yes. It-it is confusing­
5
No. 32697· 7·III
State v. Arch
MR. SLOAN: -propose correcting the definition as well to make it
consistent-
THE COURT: Okay.­
MR. BLOUNT: Yes. And I agree with that.
RP at 183.
David Arch requested, but did not propose, a jury instruction on the mental state
required for a jury to convict on the charge of attempting to elude a police vehicle:
MR. BLOUNT: There was one-additional instruction-And it­
it's-not an additional instruction; it's also a comment on-the attempting
to elude, 94.02.
There is an additional comment that says an attempt to elude,
"attempt to elude" in quotation, requires knowledge that there is a pursuing
police vehicle. Defense would say that that would also be another
appropriate instruction to give here. There has been testimony as to--the
question is when knowledge of a pursuing police vehicle seems to be at
issue here, and it seems that that would be an appropriate comment or an
appropriate instruction to give the jury, so they can consider when Mr. Arch
had knowledge of a pursuing police vehicle.
RP at 186. The State opposed the instruction:
MR. SLOAN: Your Honor,-we can address that just by subsection
(4) of the "to convict" instruction, "the defendant willfully failed or
refused." Clearly I think that is-suffices for any argument on mental state.
It's not included in the elements. "Willfully" is. Which clearly is not
accidental or unintentional; "willfully" is "willful." So as far as the mental
state I think that is sufficient-
THE COURT: -a definition of willful.
MR. SLOAN: Correct. And they don't suggest giving it in-this­
under this charge or this elements instruction. But clearly, "willfully" does
connotate--knowledge, at a minimum. If not more.
RP at 188. The trial court sided with the State:
THE COURT: Okay.
6
No. 32697-7-II1
State v. Arch
All right. So I think we're pretty much in agreement, then, with
what we discussed. Really the only difference is with the defense's just
proposed need for an instruction involving a definition of knowledge­
Well, for two reasons I'm not going to give a specific instruction on that.
Number one, jury instructions are-are to be designed or fashioned
in a way that allows both sides full and fair opportunity to argue their­
their version of the case. And -- their theory of the case, whether it's the
[S]tate or whether it's the defense. And in my view, as the court intends to
give these, without the definition, you have the ability to argue that. Based
potentially on what I heard that had been testified to yesterday, and-in
terms of when he first became aware of it, he pulled over. And-And-So
I think you can argue that theory of the case within the instructions that
you-that the court intends to give.
The second reason that I'm not going to give it is because-it's not
necessary. And by that, I think the [S]tate properly points out, in the
comments section, the willful failure requires that the defendant have
knowledge and-and that goes back to the notion that if you're not aware
of it how can you be expected to react. And-And that's the whole
defense's theory, it seems to me-
And-I think the instructions allow you to do that, without throwing
in another definition, another requirement-especially when the word
"knowledge" is not mentioned anywhere in the statute-specifically in
the--in the so-called "to convict" or the elements instruction.
So I'm not going to allow it. The record will reflect that you're
proposing it. And of course you'll have an opportunity to except
(inaudible).
RP at 189-90.
The trial court later asked the parties to disclose any objections to the final
instructions to the jury. Neither side entered an objection. The trial court instructed the
jury on the definition and elements ofDWLS in the third degree as follows:
A person commits the crime of driving while license suspended or
revoked in the third degree when he or she drives a motor vehicle while an
order is in effect that suspends or revokes his or her driver's license or
7
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
driving privileges, in this or any other state, because the person committed
an offense in another state that, if committed in this state, would be grounds
for the suspension or revocation of the person's driver's license.
To convict the defendant of driving while license suspended or
revoked in the third degree, each of the following three elements of the
crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about May 30, 2013, the defendant drove a motor
vehicle;
(2) That at the time of driving an order was in effect that suspended
or revoked the defendant's driver's license or driving privileges, in this or
any other State, because the defendant committed an offense in another
state that, if committed in this state, would be grounds for the suspension or
revocation of the defendant's driver's license; and
(3) That the driving occurred in the County of Okanogan.
CP at 40-41 (emphasis added). Thus, although the State alleged that David Arch's
license "was suspended or revoked solely because the person has committed an offense in
another state(s) that, if committed in this state, would not be grounds for the suspension
or revocation," CP at 136 (emphasis added), the trial court instructed the jury to find
whether the offenses committed by Arch in Florida and Georgia "would be grounds for
the suspension" of Arch's license in Washington. CP at 40. The instruction given
conflicts with llA Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal
93.06, at 315 (3d ed. 2008) (WPIC), but conforms to WPIC 93.07, at 319.
The trial court respectively delivered jury instructions on the definition and
elements of attempting to elude a police vehicle as:
A person commits the crime of attempting to elude a police vehicle
when he or she willfully fails or refuses to bring his or her vehicle to a stop
after being given a visual or audible signal to bring the vehicle to a stop by
8
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
a police officer, and while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle he
or she drives his or her vehicle in a reckless manner. A signal to stop given
by a police officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren.
The police officer giving such a signal must be in uniform and the
officer's vehicle must be equipped with lights and siren.
To convict the defendant of attempting to elude a police vehicle,
each of the following elements of the crime must be proved beyond a
reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about May 30, 2013, the defendant drove a motor
vehicle;
(2) That the defendant was signaled to stop by a uniformed police
officer by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren;
(3) That the signaling police officer's vehicle was equipped with
lights and siren;
(4) That the defendant willfully failed or refused to immediately
bring the vehicle to a stop after being signaled to stop;
(5) That while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, the
defendant drove his or her vehicle in a reckless manner; and
(6) That the acts occurred in the State of Washington.
CP at 35-36 (emphasis added). The trial court did not afford the jury with a definition of
"willfully."
The jury found David Arch guilty of both eluding a police officer and DWLS in
the third degree. By special verdict, the jury found that Arch's eluding threatened other
persons with physical injury or harm. The trial court sentenced David Arch to thirty
days' confinement for attempting to elude a police vehicle, an additional twelve months'
mandatory confinement for the enhancement, and ninety days' confinement for driving
with a suspended license in the third degree.
9
No. 32697-7-II1
State v. Arch
At sentencing, David Arch requested a stay of his sentence pending appeal. The
trial court summarily denied Arch's request.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
David Arch raises six contentions on appeal: (1) his conviction for attempting to
elude a police vehicle is not supported by sufficient evidence, (2) his conviction for
driving with a license suspended in the third degree is not supported by sufficient
evidence, (3) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on an alternate means of
committing DWLS in the third degree not charged in the information, (4) the trial court
erred in not allowing Arch to give a jury instruction on the requisite mental state for
attempting to elude a police vehicle, (5) Arch's defense counsel was ineffective for
failing to object to the trial court's instructions to the jury, and (6) Arch's defense counsel
was ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction defining "willfully."
We agree that David Arch's conviction for attempting to elude a police vehicle is
not supported by sufficient evidence. Therefore, we reverse the conviction with
directions' to dismiss the charge. Because of our disposition of assignment of error one,
we do not address assignments of error four, five, and six. We hold that sufficient
evidence supported David Arch's conviction for DWLS in the third degree and the trial
court committed no error in jury instructions with regard to this charge. Therefore, we
affirm Arch's conviction for DWLS in the third degree.
Issue 1: Whether sufficient evidence supports David Arch's conviction/or
10
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
attempting to elude a police vehicle?
Answer 1: No, since the State o/Washington presented no evidence that Trooper
Lex Lindquist wore a uniform.
David Arch argues that the State did not provide evidence that Trooper Lex
Lindquist was dressed in uniform when Lindquist attempted to stop Arch on Highway 97.
Arch maintains that, even though Lindquist drove a marked State Patrol vehicle and Arch
knew Lindquist was a law enforcement officer, the State's proof is lacking for a trier of
fact to infer beyond a reasonable doubt that Lindquist wore a uniform when he stopped
Arch. We agree.
Due process requires the State to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, every element
of the crime charged. In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358,364,90 S. Ct. 1068,25 L. Ed. 2d 368
(1970). Evidence is sufficient if, after viewing it in the light most favorable to the State,
a rational trier of fact could find each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
State v. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d 875,883,329 P.3d 888 (2014); State v. Green, 94
Wash. 2d 216, 221-22, 616 P.2d 628 (1980). A defendant challenging the sufficiency of the
evidence at trial admits the truth of the State's evidence and all reasonable inferences
therefrom. Witherspoon, 180 Wash. 2d at 883.
RCW 46.61.024( 1) creates the offense of attempting to elude a police vehicle.
The statute reads:
11
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
Any driver of a motor vehicle who willfully fails or refuses to
immediately bring his or her vehicle to a stop and who drives his or her
vehicle in a reckless manner while attempting to elude a pursuing police
vehicle, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring the vehicle to a
stop, shall be guilty of a class C felony. The signal given by the police
officer may be by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren. The officer giving
such a signal shall be in uniform and the vehicle shall be equipped with
lights and sirens.
(Emphasis added.)
It is an element of the crime of attempting to elude a pursuing police officer, RCW
46.61.024, that the officer who signals a driver to stop "shall be in uniform." State v.
Hudson, 85 Wash. App. 401,403,932 P.2d 714 (1997); State v. Fussell, 84 Wash. App. 126,
127,925 P.2d 642 (1996). The term "shall" in a statute is mandatory unless contrary
legislative intent is apparent. State v. Hudson, 85 Wash. App. at 403. Criminal statutes are
strictly construed. Hudson, 85 Wash. App. at 403.
One might imagine that an officer in a marked patrol car during a pursuit of a
speeding trafficker is almost certain to have worn a law enforcement uniform. From this
assumption, one might further expect a jury to be free to infer that the officer donned a
uniform. After all, the elements of a crime may be proved by circumstantial evidence.
State v. Dugger, 75 Wash. 2d 689, 690, 453 P.2d 655 (1969). The scope of an appellate
review of the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence is limited to a determination of
whether the state has produced substantial evidence tending to establish circumstances
12
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
from which the jury could reasonably infer the fact to be proved. State v. Myers, 65
Wn.2d 911,913,400 P.2d 372 (1965). Twin decisions of this court disagree.
In State v. Hudson, 85 Wash. App. 401 (1997) two officers in a marked patrol
vehicle noticed Qualagine Hudson change lanes in front of them. After running a check
on the license plate, the officers learned that Hudson's car was stolen. The officers
activated their emergency lights and siren. Hudson attempted to elude them. He ran
three stop signs, traveled along train tracks, and trekked across the front lawn of a
residence. Upon exiting the car, one officer yelled "Stop" and the other officer uttered
"Police." No trial testimony established whether the officers were in uniform. This court
noted that we must view all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to
the State and most strongly against Hudson to determine whether a rational trier of fact
could have found the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. We held that the
officers' being in a marked vehicle and Hudson's probable knowledge that his pursuers
were police, without more, was insufficient. We reversed and dismissed the conviction.
In State v. Fussell, 84 Wash. App. 126 (1996), we dismissed Stephen Fussell's
conviction for attempting to elude a police vehicle. Two officers driving a marked patrol
car with emergency lights and sirens attempted to stop Fussell as he drove over 100
m.p.h. Only the officers testified, and neither stated that he wore a uniform at the time of
the stop. We held that the evidence was insufficient for a rational trier of fact to find
13
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers were in uniform when they attempted the
stop.
The State argues that this appeal adds facts not found in Fussell or Hudson to the
calculation of whether sufficient evidence supports the conviction. State Trooper Lex
Lindquist worked traffic patrol. Trooper Lindquist displayed a gun and handcuffed
David Arch. Border Patrol Agent Louis Koler testified that, when he arrived at the stop,
he recognized Lindquist as a trooper engaged in a high risk stop. A sheriff deputy later
arrived at the scene and readily identified Lindquist as a trooper. At trial, Arch identified
those who arrested him as law enforcement officers.
We find no distinguishing important facts in this appeal. The officers in Fussell
and Hudson also rode in marked patrol vehicles. All other facts underscored by the State
occurred after the pursuit. Witnesses at the scene of the arrest testified that they
identified Lex Lindquist as a law enforcement officer, but no one testified that the
identification resulted from a uniform worn by Lindquist. We follow State v. Fussell and
State v. Hudson and reverse David Arch's conviction for attempting to elude a police
officer. Reversal for insufficient evidence bars a retrial and commands dismissal of the
charge. State v. Wright, 131 Wash. App. 474, 478, 127 PJd 742 (2006), aff'd, 165 Wn.2d
783,203 P.3d 1027 (2009).
Issue 2: Whether sufficient evidence supports David Arch s conviction/or driving
J
with a license suspended in the third degree?
14
r
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
Answer 2: Yes.
David Arch contends that a rational trier of fact could not have found him guilty of
DWLS in the third degree beyond a reasonable doubt, because the State did not provide
evidence of the reason for which his license was suspended in Florida and Georgia. He
impliedly argues that, since the State did not present evidence as to the reason for the
foreign state suspensions, the jury could not find that the grounds for the suspensions
would also be grounds for suspension in Washington State. The trial court instructed the
jury that the jury may convict only if Arch committed an offense in Georgia or Florida
that, if committed in this state, would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of his
driver's license. We disagree, because Arch fails to recognize the efficacy of his
stipulation.
RCW 46.20.342 provides, in relevant part:
(1) It is unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle in this state
while that person is in a suspended or revoked status or when his or her
privilege to drive is suspended or revoked in this or any other state.
(c) A person who violates this section when his or her driver's
license or driving privilege is, at the time of the violation, suspended or
revoked solely because ... (v) the person has committed an offense in
another state that, if committed in this state, would not be grounds for the
suspension or revocation ofthe person's driver's license ... or any
combination of (c)(i) through (vii) of this subsection, is guilty of driving
while license suspended or revoked in the third degree, a misdemeanor.
(Emphasis added.) The jury instruction and David Arch's stipulation use the phrase
"would be grounds," while the statute and charging documents use the phrase "would not
15
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
be grounds." As a preliminary matter, then, this court must decide whether to review the
sufficiency of the evidence of the crime with which Arch was charged, or the crime as set
forth in the to-convict instruction.
Jury instructions not objected to at trial become the law of the case. State v.
Hickman, l35 Wn.2d 97, 102,954 P.2d 900 (1998); State v. Hames, 74 Wash. 2d 721, 725,
446 P .2d 344 (1968). Nevertheless, if a jury instruction omits an essential element of the
charged crime, appellate courts may consider the issue for the first time on appeal, as
such omission constitutes a manifest error affecting a constitutional right under RAP
2.5(a)(3). State v. Chino, 117 Wash. App. 531, 538, 72 P.3d 256 (2003). When an
information alleges only one crime, it is constitutional error to instruct the jury on a
different, uncharged crime. State v. Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. 659,669,271 P.3d 310
(2012). A new trial is appropriate if it appears that the jury mistakenly convicted the
defendant of an uncharged crime. Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. at 669. However, the error may
be harmless if other instructions clearly and specifically define the charged crime. Chino,
117 Wash. App. at 540.
In criminal cases, the State assumes the burden of proving otherwise unnecessary
elements of the offense when such added elements are included without objection in the
'to convict' instruction. State v. Hickman, l35 Wn.2d at 102. On appeal, a defendant can
challenge the sufficiency of the added element. Hickman, l35 Wn.2d at 103. Thus, in a
sufficiency of the evidence challenge, an appellate court should typically review the final
16
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
to-convict instructions to determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found each
element of the crime.
In State v. Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. 659 (2012), this court followed a different
approach. In Kirwin, the State charged Jennifer Lynn Kirwin with first-degree custodial
interference and alleged that she took and concealed her children from their father, her
ex-husband, with the intent to deny access to a parent having a lawful right to physical
custody. The trial court, however, instructed the jury on the elements of a different
section ofthe statute, that being whether Kirwin took her children "from the other parent
having the lawful right to time with the child pursuant to a court-ordered parenting plan."
Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. at 663. On appeal, Kirwin contended that the State had failed to
present sufficient evidence to support a conviction on the crime as originally charged.
The panel agreed that the inconsistency between the charging documents and the jury
instructions deprived Kirwin of due process. However, the panel disagreed on the proper
remedy for the error. The majority held that it should address Kirwin's challenge to the
sufficiency of the evidence to support the crime described in the charging document.
Finding the evidence inadequate, this court reversed and dismissed Kirwin's conviction.
Kirwin, 166 Wash. 2d at 675. The dissenting judge wrote that the erroneous jury instruction
warranted a new trial, but not outright dismissal. Moreover, the dissenting judge penned
that the law of the case doctrine limited the scope of review of Kirwin's sufficiency of the
17
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
evidence challenge to the jury instructions and not the charging document. Kirwin, 166
Wash. App. at 677-78 (Korsmo, 1., dissenting).
Here, as in Kirwin, David Arch assigns error to the sufficiency of the evidence to
support a conviction based on the crime described in the information. He maintains that
the State failed to provide evidence that his suspensions in Florida and Georgia were the
result of offenses that, if committed in Washington, would not warrant suspension in this
state. Importantly, however, and unlike in Kirwin, Arch stipulated that those offenses
would warrant suspension in Washington. When the parties stipulate to the facts that
establish an element of the charged crime, the jury need not find the existence of that
element, and the stipulation therefore constitutes a waiver of the right to ajury trial on
that element as well as the right to require the State prove that element beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Humphries, 181 Wash. 2d 708, 714-15, 336 P.3d 1121 (2014).
Because of this distinction, the proper scope ofthis court's review is the crime as
described in the jury instructions and not the charging document. Moreover, as a general
rule, it makes more sense to review the sufficiency of the evidence of a crime as
instructed rather than as charged. Limiting review to the crime as charged could give the
State an unfair advantage on appeal as it would eliminate the requirement that the State
prove additional elements not previously charged beyond a reasonable doubt.
Having determined that the proper scope of review is the to-convict instruction on
driving with license suspended in the third degree, we find sufficient evidence supports
18
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
the conviction. David Arch clearly and voluntarily stipulated that he committed offenses
in Florida and Georgia that "if committed in Washington State, would be grounds for
suspension or revocation of my Washington State driver's license." Ex. 11. Although
the State did not amend the information prior to resting its case, Arch's stipulation and
explicit agreement with the omission of the word "not" from the jury instruction
amounted to a waiver of Arch's right to ajury trial on that element. See Humphries, 181
Wash. 2d at 714-15. We affirm Arch's conviction for DWLS in the third degree.
Issue 3: Whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on an alternate means
ofcommitting DWLS in the third degree not charged in the information?
Answer 3: No.
As explained above, a defendant convicted of a crime not charged in the original
information is typically entitled to a new trial. State v. Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. at 669
(2012). Nevertheless, David Arch had notice of the State's intention to prosecute him for
DWLS in the third degree under a different theory, as evidenced by his stipulation. Thus,
we may affirm the charge of which Arch had notice and of which the jury found him
gUilty.
David Arch's Statement ofAdditional Grounds for Review
David Arch raises two additional grounds for this court's review: (1) Arch
contends he was not permitted to hire private counsel, and (2) Arch's attorney did not
19
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
infonn him of the effect of signing a speedy trial waiver. Arch did not raise either of
these issues below.
A criminal defendant can submit a pro se statement of additional grounds for
review to identify and discuss those matters related to the decision under review that the
defendant believes have not been adequately addressed by the brief filed by the
defendant's counsel. RAP 1O.10(a). The rule additionally provides in part:
Reference to the record and citation to authorities are not necessary
or required, but the appellate court will not consider a defendant's
statement of additional grounds for review if it does not infonn the court of
the nature and occurrence of alleged errors. Except as required in cases in
which counsel files a motion to withdraw as set forth in rule 18.3(a)(2), the
appellate court is not obligated to search the record in support of claims
made in a defendant's statement of additional grounds for review.
RAP 10.10(c); see also State v. Alvarado, 164 Wn.2d 556,569,192 PJd 345 (2008).
This court does not consider arguments that are repetitive of briefing. State v. Calvin,
176 Wn. App. 1,26,316 PJd 496 (2013), remanded on other grounds, 183 Wn.2d lOB,
353 P.3d 640 (2015).
Although David Arch names witnesses to support his claim that he was not
allowed to hire private counsel, Arch can point to no evidence in the record to support
this contention, nor his additional contention. Arch's contentions may have merit, but
given their reliance on matters outside the record, they cannot be raised on direct appeal,
and are more suited to a personal restraint petition. State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322,
337-38,899 P.2d 1251 (1995); State v. Kinzie, 181 Wash. App. 774, 786, 326 PJd 870,
20
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
review denied, 337 P.3d 325 (2014). Therefore, we do not address Arch's additional
grounds for review.
CONCLUSION
We reverse and order the dismissal of David Arch's conviction for attempting to
elude a police officer. We affirm Arch's conviction for driving with a license suspended
in the third degree. We remand to the trial court to resentence Arch consistent with this
OpInIOn.
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.
Fe~}
~ I
I CONCUR:
21
No. 32697-7-111
SIDDOWAY, C.l. (concurring) - The majority characterizes this court in State v.
Kirwin, 166 Wash. App. 659, 271 P.3d 310 (2012) as eschewing an analysis under which
the sufficiency of evidence is tested against the court's instructions (as one would do if a
criminal defendant argued that the instructions were law of the case) and of "follow[ing]
a different approach." Opinion at 17. But what we did in Kirwin was respect an
appellant's right to be the master of her own challenges on appeal. Ms. Kirwin could
have raised two challenges based on the instructions given in her case and obtained a new
trial. 1 Instead, she wished to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the crime
with which she was charged, and thereby obtain dismissal. We respected her right to
choose her own assignments of error and arguments on appeal. I would do so in this case
as well.
There is an important distinction between this case and Kirwin, however. In
Kirwin, the record did not reveal that Ms. Kirwin contributed to the error in the
1 In Kirwin, we observed:
At the outset, we recognize that there are two well-established challenges
Ms. Kirwin could raise in light of these events that could entitle her to a
new trial.
... Ms. Kirwin [] argues she is entitled to more than a new trial; she
is entitled to have the convictions dismissed due to the insufficiency of the
evidence.
166 Wash. App. at 669-70.
No. 32697-7-III
State v. Arch
instructions, and we held that "[w ]here she has defended herself once against the crimes
charged, she cannot be deprived of her right to have the sufficiency of evidence tested
against the information because she failed to detect and correct errors made by others."
Id. at 673. Since Ms. Kirwin at most failed to object to the instructions, she could not be
subjected to a second trial where the State's evidence was insufficient to prove the
charges in an information that it never sought to amend. 2
Here, by contrast, Mr. Arch entered into a stipulation establishing the element that
he now contends varied from the crime as charged. Under the doctrine of invited error, a
party may not materially contribute to an erroneous application of law at trial and then
complain of it on appeal. In re Dependency ofK.R., 128 Wash. 2d 129, 147,904 P.2d 1132
(1995). The doctrine prohibits a party from setting up an error at trial and then
complaining of it on appeal. State v. Wakefield, 130 Wn.2d 464,475,925 P.2d 183
(1996). Mr. Arch's participation in stipulating that his license had been suspended
elsewhere for crimes that, if committed in Washington State "would be grounds" for
suspending or revoking his Washington driver's license, would understandably deflect
2 The majority's concern that "[l]imiting review to the crime as charged could give
the State an unfair advantage on appeal as it would eliminate the requirement that the
State prove additional elements not previously charged beyond a reasonable doubt" is
misplaced. Opinion at 18. Kirwin teaches that where the State charges one crime but
offers instructions on another, more than one type of error can be assigned. The
insufficiency of the evidence to prove the crime on which the jury was instructed is one.
Its insufficiency to prove the crime charged, assuming the instructions were not invited
error, is another.
2
No. 32697-7-111
State v. Arch
the court's and the State's attention from whether that element was consistent with the
crime as charged. Opinion at 3.
The invited error doctrine precludes a criminal defendant from seeking appellate
review of an error he helped create, even when the alleged error involves constitutional
rights. State v. Studd, 137 Wash. 2d 533, 546-47, 973 P.2d 1049 (1999). Because any
insufficiency in the evidence to prove the crime as charged was the result of invited error,
1 concur in the result.
dz cLio aJtt~ · ~'t
Siddoway, C.J.
3