State Of Washington, V Danielle Price Newton ( 2014 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 4341
Respondent,
V.
DANIELLE PRICE NEWTON, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
1—
PENOYAR, J. P. T. Danielle Newton appeals her convictions for possession of a
controlled substance with intent to deliver— methamphetamine ( count one) and possession of a
controlled substance— lnethamphetamine ( count three). Newton argues ( 1) the trial court
improperly gave an unwitting possession jury instruction on count one and that her counsel was
ineffective for requesting the instruction; ( 2) the search warrant was unconstitutionally overbroad
and her counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the search warrant and file a motion to
suppress evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant; ( 3) the trial court violated her
constitutional right to present a defense when it refused to admit a portion of her statement under
ER 106; and ( 4) the accomplice liability statute is unconstitutional. We hold the warrant was not
overbroad, Newton' s counsel was not ineffective for failing to file a motion to suppress, the trial
court did not violate Newton' s right to present a defense, and the accomplice liability statute is
Newton' s for count three. However,
not unconstitutional. Accordingly, we affirm conviction
because the unwitting possession instruction improperly shifted the burden of proof on count
one, we reverse that conviction and remand for further proceedings.
1. Judge Joel Penoyar is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeals, Division II,
pursuant to CAP 21( c).
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FACTS
I. BACKGROUND
On the evening of December 9, 2011, police officers stopped the vehicle Nathan
Gadberry was driving and Newton was riding as a passenger. After removing Gadberry and
Newton fxom the vehicle, the officers placed them under arrest and conducted a search of their
persons incident to their arrest. While conducting a search of Newton, an officer asked her if she
had any weapons or sharp objects, and she responded that she had a syringe with
methamphetamine in her pocket. The officers then placed Newton in the back of a police vehicle
and read her Miranda2 rights. Newton waived her Miranda rights and again told the officers that
the syringe found in her pocket contained methamphetamine. The officers also found a digital
weighing scale on Gadberry.
Detective Bill Sofianos testified that he saw a blue container holding what appeared to be
methamphetamine in the center console area when the officers removed Newton and Gadberry
from the vehicle. The officers sealed the vehicle and towed it to a secure facility until a search
warrant could be obtained. Sofianos applied for and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle.
When searching the vehicle, officers found a glass smoking pipe, a scale, two spoons,
several cell phones, and Newton' s identification, in addition to the blue container Sofianos
already saw. The scale found on Gadberry, the syringe found on Newton, and the scale, spoons,
and pipe found in the vehicle all contained methamphetamine. The blue container from the
center console contained 4. 8 grams of methamphetamine. Detective Scott Holmes analyzed the
data from one of the seized cell phones and found several text messages from the day before and
Newton' Newton Gadberry. The State charged
the day of s arrest as well as photos of and
2 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 ( 1966).
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Newton with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver —methamphetamine and
possession of a controlled substance— methamphetamine. 3
Il. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The State tried Newton, along with Gadberry. On the day of the readiness hearing on
February 2, 2012, the State provided Newton with a CD containing evidence obtained from one
of the cell phones seized from the vehicle. At the readiness hearing, Newton was given the
opportunity to continue the trial in order to move to suppress the recently produced evidence.
Newton' s counsel stated that Newton felt her constitutional right to a speedy trial was more
important than addressing potential CrR 3. 6 issues. On the first day of trial on February 6, 2012,
Newton' s counsel verbally objected to the introduction of three photographs from the CD and
argued the search warrant was overbroad. Newton' s counsel, however, did not file a motion to
suppress, and stated that he saw no basis to bring a suppression motion and that Newton wanted
to proceed to trial instead of continuing to allow time to file a motion to suppress.
The State also iterated on the record that Newton wished to proceed to trial versus
continuing to pursue a motion to suppress:
W] e want [ the] Defendants to be advised of all their rights as well. And, I think
in this case, we have some unusual circumstances that I want to make sure that the
Court makes very clear to the Defendants that this is the first trial setting, that
we' re — let' s see, at least right now I don' t know if there are any other motions
from Defendants but that we are proceeding to trial and there has been no motion
to suppress and that they are aware that they have waived that right because they
think their right to a speedy trial is more important than possibly filing a motion
to suppress.
3
The State also charged Gadberry with possession of a controlled substance with intent to
deliver —methamphetamine ( count one) and possession of a controlled substance -
methamphetamine ( count two).
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1 Report of Proceedings ( RP) at 81. Newton' s counsel confirmed that Newton wished to
proceed to trial rather than continue the trial. The trial court did not suppress any of the evidence
and admitted three text messages and three photographs taken from the phone seized from the
vehicle.
At a CrR 3. 5 hearing before trial, the trial court admitted Newton' s post -Miranda
confession that the syringe found in her pocket contained methamphetamine. At trial, Newton
also attempted to admit a pre -Miranda statement she allegedly made to the officer that conducted
the search incident to her arrest that the syringe with the methamphetamine in her pocket was the
only methamphetamine she had. The trial court ruled this statement inadmissible hearsay and
that it did not meet any of the hearsay exceptions.
Newton' s counsel requested that the trial court give an unwitting possession instruction
for count one, which the trial court gave. The trial court also gave an accomplice liability
instruction. The jury found Newton guilty on both count one and .count three and agreed to the
special verdict regarding a school zone sentencing enhancement for count one. Newton appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. UNWITTING POSSESSION JURY INSTRUCTION
Newton argues the jury instruction on unwitting possession violated her Fourteenth
Amendment right to due process because it improperly shifted the burden of proof on count one
to the defense. Newton also argues that her trial counsel was ineffective for requesting the
unwitting possession instruction. Because Newton' s counsel erroneously requested the
unwitting possession jury instruction, which we presume prejudiced Newton because it misstated
the law, we reverse Newton' s conviction on count one and remand for further proceedings.
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When an instruction given is one defense counsel proposed, the invited error doctrine
restrains us from reversing the conviction based on an error in that jury instruction. State v.
Henderson, 114 Wash. 2d 867, 870, 792 P.2d 514 ( 1990); see also State v. Studd, 137 Wash. 2d 533,
546 -47, 973 P.2d 1049 ( 1999). Even where constitutional rights are involved, we are " precluded
from reviewing jury instructions when the defendant has proposed an instruction or agreed to its
wording." State v. Winings, 126 Wn. App. 75, 89; 107 P.3d 141 ( 2005). We review such
challenges, however, through an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Studd, 137 Wash. 2d at
550 -51. Because Newton' s trial counsel proposed the unwitting possession instruction, we do
not consider Newton' s direct constitutional challenge to the instruction and, instead, consider
only Newton' s ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, Newton must show that counsel' s
performance was so deficient that it "fell below an objective standard of reasonableness" and that
the deficient performance prejudiced her. State v. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d 222, 225 -26, 743 P.2d
816 ( 1987) ( quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d
674 ( 1984)). Performance is not deficient if counsel' s conduct can be characterized as a
legitimate trial strategy. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wash. 2d 856, 863, 215 P.3d 177 ( 2009). To establish
prejudice, the defendant must show a reasonable probability that the deficient performance
affected the outcome of the trial. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d at 226 ( quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at
694). " A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. We review ineffective assistance of counsel claims de
novo. State v. Sutherby, 165 Wash. 2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 ( 2009).
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A. DEFICIENT PERFORMANCE
Here, the State charged Newton with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with
intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Arguably, the unwitting
possession instruction was appropriate for the possession charge.. However, Newton' s trial
counsel proposed an unwitting possession jury instruction for only the possession with intent to
deliver charge, which the trial court gave.
The State has the burden to prove each element of a charged crime beyond a reasonable
doubt. In re Matter of Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364, 90 S. Ct. 1068, 25 L. Ed. 2d 368 ( 1970).
Unwitting possession is an affirmative defense to unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
State v. Bradshaw, 152 Wash. 2d 528, 538, 98 P.3d 1190 ( 2004). In Bradshaw, our Supreme Court
clarified that unlawful possession of a controlled substance does not have a knowledge element.
152 Wash. 2d at 538. Therefore, unwitting possession is an affirmative defense to possession,
which ameliorates the harshness of a strict liability crime. Bradshaw, 152 Wash. 2d at 538. "`` To
establish [ this] defense, the defendant must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that ...
her possession of the [ controlled] substance was unwitting. "' State v. Buford, 93 Wash. App. 149,
152, 967 P.2d 548 ( 1998) ( quoting State v. Balzer, 91 Wn. App-' 44, 67, 954 P.2d 931 ( 1998)).
When used as a defense to possession, the unwitting possession instruction does not shift the
burden of proof. Bradshaw, 152 Wash. 2d at 538.
In contrast, the elements of the crime of unlawful possession with intent to deliver
include a requisite mental state — intent. State v. Sims, 119 Wash. 2d 138, 142, 829 P.2d 1075
1992). We presume that one who acts with the requisite mental state of intent also acts with
knowledge; thus, " knowledge" is not a separate element of possession with intent to deliver, but
rather is subsumed within " intent." Sims, 119 Wash. 2d at 142. Thus, one must know it is a
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controlled substance in order to " deliver" it under the statute. State v. Sanders, 66 Wash. App.
380, 390, 832 P.2d 1326 ( 1992). Unwitting possession is not an affirmative defense to the crime
of possession with intent to deliver because "[ i]t is impossible for a person to intend to .. .
deliver a controlled substance without knowing what he or she is doing." Sims, 119 Wash. 2d at
142. Therefore, requiring the defendant to prove unwitting possession by a preponderance of the
evidence in an unlawful possession with intent to deliver charge improperly shifts the State' s
burden to prove the mental state element of intent ( in which " knowledge" is subsumed) to the
defendant.
Further, Division Three of this court held an unwitting possession instruction for an .
unlawful possession of a firearm charge erroneously placed the burden of proof on the defense
because under RCW 9. 41. 040, the State has the burden of proving the requisite mental state.
State v. Carter, 127 Wn. App. 713, 717, 112 P.3d 561 ( 2005) ( citing State v. Anderson, 141
Wash. 2d 357, 366, 5 P.3d 1247 ( 2000)). In Carter, defense counsel' s proposal of an unwitting
possession instruction was deficient and was not a legitimate trial tactic. 127 Wn..App. at 717.
Here, the jury was given a " to convict" instruction for unlawful possession with intent to
deliver, which instructed that the State had the burden to prove every element beyond a
reasonable doubt, including the requisite mental state of intent. But the jury was also given the
unwitting possession instruction for the unlawful possession with intent to deliver charge, which
instructed that Newton had the burden to prove unwitting possession by a preponderance of the
evidence. Additionally, during closing argument, Newton' s counsel argued that if the jury
somehow determined that Newton had constructive possession of the methamphetamine in the
blue container, then Newton would have to " prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it is
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more likely true than not true that she didn' t know she had it" per the unwitting possession
instruction. 4B RP at 1050.
The unwitting possession instruction misled the jury to believe Newton had the burden to
prove the requisite mental state of intent, which conflicted with the State' s burden to prove the
requisite mental state beyond a reasonable doubt. This inconsistent instruction was a clear
misstatement of the law.
Further, requesting the unwitting possession jury instruction cannot be characterized as a
tactical decision. While there may be the rare case where defense counsel would legitimately
want to undertake the burden of proving unwitting possession when the State has the contrary
burden of proving knowing possession beyond a reasonable doubt, the record here does not
support any purposeful strategy in undertaking that burden of proof. See State v. Michael, 160
Wn. App. 522, 527 -28, 247 P.3d 842 ( 2011). Accordingly, we hold that defense counsel' s
performance was deficient in proposing the unwitting possession instruction.
B. PREJUDICE
When instructions are inconsistent, it is the duty of the reviewing court to determine
whether `` the jury was misled as to its function and responsibilities under the law' by that
inconsistency." State v. Wanrow, 88 Wash. 2d 221, 239, 559 P.2d 548 ( 1977) ( quoting State v.
Hayes, 73 Wash. 2d 568, 572, 439 P.2d 978 ( 1968)). If the inconsistency results from a clear
misstatement of the law, the misstatement is presumed to have misled the jury in a manner
prejudicial to the defendant. Wanrow, 88 Wash. 2d at 239. In Carter, Division Three of this court
held that giving an unwitting possession instruction when the State had the burden of proving the
requisite mental state, misled the jury to believing the defendant had the burden of proving the
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culpable mental state and was a misstatement of the law; therefore, the defendant was presumed
to be prejudiced. Carter, 127 Wash. App. at 718.
Here, the combination of the unwitting possession instruction and the to convict
instruction created a clear misstatement of the law. Newton is presumed to have been prejudiced
and is entitled to a reversal on the unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to
deliver charge.
Because we reverse only count one due to the erroneous unwitting possession instruction,
we still address Newton' s remaining arguments because they may be relevant on remand and
also pertain to count three.
II. SEARCH WARRANT
Newton argues we should reverse her convictions because the evidence used to convict
her was obtained under an overbroad search warrant. At trial, Newton objected to only three
photographs taken from a cell phone found in the car in which she was riding, arguing the search
warrant was overbroad. She did not file a motion to suppress any evidence obtained pursuant to
the search warrant. Because Newton failed to properly raise this argument below, with the
exception of the three photographs, and failed to meet her burden of showing the alleged error
was a manifest constitutional error reviewable under RAP 2. 5( a)( 3), we directly review only her
challenge to the three photographs. Because the warrant met the probable cause and particularity
requirements, it was not overbroad.
Newton also argues she was denied effective assistance of counsel because her attorney
failed to file a written motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant.
Because the warrant was not overbroad, Newton' s counsel was not ineffective for not filing a
motion to suppress.
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The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that " no warrants shall
issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be, searched, and the persons or things to be seized." Similarly, article I; section 7 of the
Washington Constitution provides that "[ n] o person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or
his home invaded, without authority of law." These constitutional provisions impose two
requirements; first, that the warrant be supported by probable cause, and second, that the warrant
particularly describe the place to be searched and the items to be seized. State v. Perrone, 119
Wash. 2d 538, 545, 834 P.2d 611 ( 1992).
Probable cause exists if the affidavit in support of the warrant sets forth facts and
circumstances sufficient to establish a reasonable inference that the defendant ' is probably
involved in criminal activity and that evidence of the crime can be found at the place to be
searched." State v. Thein, 138 Wash. 2d 133, 140, 977 P.2d 582 ( 1999). " Accordingly, `` probable
cause requires a nexus between criminal activity and the item to be seized, and also a nexus
between the item to be seized and the place to be searched. "' Thein, 138 Wash. 2d at 140 ( quoting
State v. Goble, 88 Wn. App. 503, 509, 945 P.2d 263 ( 1997) ( citing WAYNE R. LAFAVE, SEARCH
SEIZURE § 3. 7( d), at 372 ( 3d ed. 1996)).
To meet the particularity requirement " a search warrant must be sufficiently definite so
that the officer executing the warrant can identify the property sought with reasonable certainty."
State v. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 692, 940 P.2d 1239 ( 1997). The required degree of specificity
varies according to the circumstances and the type of items involved." Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at
692. The particularity requirement serves the dual functions of " limit[ ing] the executing
officer' s discretion" and " inform[ ing] the person subject to the search what items the officer may
seize." State v. Riley, 121 Wash. 2d 22, 29, 846 P.2d 1365 ( 1993).
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A warrant is " overbroad" if either requirement is not satisfied. State v. Maddox, 116 Wn.
App. 796, 805, 67 P.3d 1135 ( 2003), aff'd 152 Wash. 2d 499, 98 P.3d 1199 ( 2004). Therefore, a
warrant can be overbroad " either because it fails to describe with particularity items for which
probable cause exists, or because it describes, particularly or otherwise, items for which probable
cause does not exist." Maddox, 116 Wash. App. at 805 ( footnotes omitted).
We review the trial court' s probable cause and particularity determinations de novo,
giving deference to the magistrate' s determination. State v. Neth, 165 Wash. 2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d
658 ( 2008). We evaluate search warrants in a common sense, practical manner and not in a
hypertechnical sense. Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at 549.
The warrant here met the probable cause requirement. The affidavit sufficiently set out
facts and circumstances relating to the crimes of possession of a controlled substance with intent
to deliver and possession of a controlled substance. It stated that the officers had a warrant for
Newton' s and Gadberry' s arrest; when the officer' s contacted Newton and Gadberry' s vehicle
neither Newton nor Gadberry followed commands to put their hands up; when the officers
conducted searches incident to their arrest, they found a scale in Gadberry' s pocket that field
tested positive for methamphetamine and a syringe with liquid in Newton' s pocket that field
tested positive .
for methamphetamine; from outside the vehicle the officers observed a cell phone
and blue container in the center console area that appeared to contain large shards of
methamphetamine that had not yet been " stepped on" ( or broken down to smaller shards that
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4;
look more like the cutting agents added to the methamphetamine) and Newton admitted that
she had methamphetamine on her person and that the methamphetamine in the car was not hers.
Based on the facts and his experience, Sofianos authored an affidavit and requested a warrant to
search Gadberry and Newton' s car.
Newton argues the officers relied on " conclusory predictions [ and] [ b] lanket inferences . .
substituting] generalities for the required showing of reasonably specific `` underlying
circumstances. "' Thein, 138 Wash. 2d at 147 -48 ( quoting State v. Dalton, 73 Wash. App. 132, 140,
868 P.2d 873 ( 1994)). We disagree.
The affidavit provided specific facts that controlled substances and distribution
equipment that tested positive for methamphetamine were found on Gadberry' s and Newton' s
person after they were removed from the vehicle and that a large quantity of methamphetamine
was observed inside the vehicle. This was sufficient " to establish a reasonable inference that the
defendant[ s were] probably involved in criminal activity and that evidence of the crime can be
found at the place to be searched;" here, the car Gadberry and Newton were in when .they were
arrested. Thein, 138 Wash. 2d at 140.
The warrant also met the particularity requirement. Although the search warrant did not
state the crimes under investigation, it did specifically list the items to be searched for and
seized, which included methamphetamine and paraphernalia used in the ingestion or
consumption of methamphetamine, methamphetamine distribution equipment, and " photographs
in order to establish dominion and control of the vehicle, as well as to confirm the identity of
4 The State' s expert witness testified that dealers " step on" the methamphetamine to increase the
amount of methamphetamine they can sell to make, more money. By crushing the
methamphetamine and adding a similar looking cutting agent, a dealer can turn one pound of
methamphetamine into three pounds. This raised the likelihood that items related to processing
the methamphetamine would be found somewhere in the vehicle.
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5
the defendant( s). " See Ex. 62. This description was sufficiently definite, allowing the officers
executing the warrant [ to] identify the property sought with reasonable certainty." Stenson, 132
Wash. 2d at 692. Because the warrant met the probable cause and particularity requirements, it was
not overbroad. Accordingly, Newton' s counsel was not ineffective for not filing a motion to
suppress.
III. OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A DEFENSE
Newton argues she was denied her constitutional right to present a defense when the trial
court refused to admit a portion of her statement under ER 106 and the common law rule of
completeness. Because ER 106 does not apply to Newton' s alleged oral statement, this argument
fails.
A defendant in a criminal trial has a constitutional right to present relevant, admissible
evidence in her defense. State v. Sublett, 156 Wn. App. 160, 198, 231 P.3d 231 ( 2010). " The
right of an accused in a criminal trial to due process is, in essence, the right to a fair opportunity
to defend against the State' s accusations." Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 294, 93 S. Ct.
1038, 35 L. Ed. 2d 297 ( 1973). However, a criminal defendant' s right to present a defense is not
5
The search warrant also authorized the search and seizure of "[ c] ellular telephones and their
electronically stored memory." Ex. 62. Newton argues a search of a cellular telephone is
the First Amendment exactitude" when describing the
protected by and requires " scrupulous
materials to be seized. Appellant' s Br. at 16. But she provides no law to support her argument
that cellular telephones are protected by the First Amendment. " Parties raising constitutional
issues must present considered arguments to this court." State v. Johnson, 119 Wash. 2d 167, 171,
829 P.2d 1082 ( 1992). "`` [ N] aked castings into the constitutional sea are not sufficient to
command judicial consideration and discussion. "' Johnson, 119 Wash. 2d at 171 ( quoting In re
Request of Rosier, 105 Wash. 2d 606, 616, 717 P.2d 1353 ( 1986)). The Supreme Court recently
held that a defendant has a privacy interest in text message conversations from warrantless
intrusion. State v. Hinton, No. 87663 -1, 2014 WL 766680, at * 1 ( Wash. Feb. 27, 2014). In this
case, however, there was a search warrant for the cell phone and thus Hinton is not controlling.
Because Newton did not substantiate this constitutional argument and did not cite to any legal
authority that a search and seizure of a person' s cellular phone implicates First Amendment
rights, we do not consider this argument.
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absolute; a defendant seeking to present evidence must show that the evidence is at least
minimally relevant to a fact at issue in the case. State v. Jones, 168 Wash. 2d 713, 720, 230 P.3d
576 ( 2010). We review a trial court's ruling on the. admission of evidence to determine whether
it was manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or reasons. State v. Powell, 126
Wash. 2d 244, 258, 893 P.2d 615 ( 1995).
ER 106 provides that: " When a writing or recorded statement or part thereof is introduced
by a party, an adverse party may require the party at that time to introduce any other part, or any
other writing or recorded statement, which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously
with it." ER 106 is limited to a writing or recorded statement. State v. Perez, 139 Wash. App. 522,
531, 161 P.3d 461 ( 2007).
Here, Newton contends she told the arresting officers that the syringe found in her pocket
after her arrest was the only methamphetamine she had. When questioned at the CrR 3. 5 hearing
regarding her statements to the officers, Newton did not testify that she told the officers that the
methamphetamine in her pocket was the only methamphetamine she had. Instead, she testified
that when an officer conducted a search incident to her arrest, he asked her if she had any sharp
objects or weapons in her pockets, and she responded that she had a syringe that contained
methamphetamine in her pocket. At trial, when Newton' s counsel cross -examined the lead
detective investigating Newton' s case, he asked, " she said, all the methamphetamine she had was
in her syringe, right ?" 2A RP at 274. The State objected and the trial court ruled the alleged
statement was hearsay and did not fall under any of the exceptions, and was thus inadmissible
unless Newton took the stand in her defense.
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Because ER 106 applies only to a writing or a recorded statement, it does not apply
Newton' s alleged oral statement and does not require that Newton' s statement be admitted to the
jury. Rather, as the trial court found, ER 801 provides the proper framework.
IV. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ACCOMPLICE LIABILITY STATUTE
Newton next argues that the accomplice liability statute is unconstitutionally overbroad
because it criminalizes speech protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Prior case
law compels us to reject this argument.
Division One of this court rejected an identical argument. State v. Coleman, 155 Wn.
App. 951, 961, 231 P.3d 212 ( 2010). The Coleman court held that because the accomplice
liability statute " requires the criminal mens rea to aid or agree to aid the commission of a specific
crime with knowledge the aid will further the crime, ... [ the statute' s] sweep avoids protected
speech activities that are not performed in aid of a crime and that only consequentially further the
crime." 155 Wn. App. at 960 -61 ( citing Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 448, 89 S. Ct.
1827, 23 L. Ed. 2d 430 ( 1969)). In State v. Ferguson, 164 Wash. App. 370, 376, 264 P.3d 575
2011), we explicitly adopted Division One' s rationale in Coleman and held that the accomplice
liability statute is not unconstitutionally overbroad. Ferguson controls here, and Newton' s
argument fails.
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We affirm Newton' s conviction for count three. Because the unwitting possession
instruction improperly shifted the burden of proof on count one, we reverse Newton' s conviction
on count one and remand for further proceedings.
A .majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW
2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.
We concur:
Maxa, J. ,
Lee, _
J.
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