State Of Washington v. Victor A. Cervantes ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, NO. 68936-3-1
Respondent, DIVISION ONE
CT.'
—If
v.
VICTOR CERVANTES, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
CP,
Appellant. FILED: July 15, 2013
vo
Lau, J. —When a principal or an accomplice removes a firearm from a home ;c\
during a burglary, he or she is "armed with a deadly weapon" for purposes of first
degree burglary. Because Victor Cervantes or a coparticipant removed a handgun from
Michelle Richie's home during the burglary, we affirm his first degree burglary
conviction. And because sufficient evidence supports accomplice liability under the
general theft statute, that evidence also supports accomplice liability for theft of a
firearm. We find no error in the trial court's use of Washington Pattern Jury Instruction
(WPIC) 4.01's reasonable doubt instruction. We affirm Cervantes's first degree burglary
and theft of a firearm convictions.
FACTS
On July 28, 2011, Richie saw an unfamiliar car parked near her house as she
pulled into her driveway. She saw Cervantes approaching from the side of her house
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and used her cell phone to call her husband. She questioned Cervantes about his
presence at the house. Cervantes said the house was unlocked. Richie responded,
"[Tjhere's no reason to be going through anyone's house." Verbatim Report of
Proceedings (VRP) (May 14, 2012) at 32. After her husband answered the phone,
Richie told him Cervantes's license plate number. Cervantes shouted profanities and
struck the right side of Richie's head, scratching her face. Cervantes grabbed her
phone and fled in his car. Richie noticed two men run from the back of her house and
escape through a fence.
Richie and her husband met Skagit County Sheriff's deputies outside the house.
Richie noticed damage to the front door frame. Later, she noticed a loaded handgun
missing from the nightstand drawer in the master bedroom. Other valuable items,
including a television, video game systems, a laptop, and jewelry remained untouched.
Sheriff deputies never recovered Richie's gun and cell phone. They later
arrested Cervantes but never identified the other two men.
A jury found Cervantes guilty of first degree burglary, first degree robbery, and
theft of a firearm. The trial court sentenced Cervantes to 66 months' confinement.
Cervantes appeals his first degree burglary and theft of a firearm convictions but not his
first degree robbery conviction.
ANALYSIS
Cervantes argues (1) insufficient evidence to support the first degree burglary
conviction because the State failed to prove that he or a coparticipant was "armed
with a deadly weapon" under RCW 9A.52.020(1 )(a)'s first degree burglary statute;
(2) insufficient evidence to support the theft of a firearm conviction because he lacked
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knowledge that the men planned to steal a gun; and (3) the reasonable doubt instruction
is erroneous.
Standard of Review
To determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support a conviction, we ask
"'whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any
rational trier of fact could have found sufficient evidence to justify that conclusion
beyond a reasonable doubt.'" State v. Davis, 175 Wn.2d 287, 346, 290 P.3d 43 (2012)
(quoting State v. Yates. 161 Wn.2d 714, 786, 168 P.3d 359 (2007)). "[A]ll reasonable
inferences from the evidence must be drawn in favor of the State and interpreted most
strongly against the defendant." State v. Salinas. 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068(1992). Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence carry equal weight. State v.
Goodman. 150 Wn.2d 774, 781, 83 P.3d 410 (2004). "[T]he specific criminal intent of
the accused may be inferred from the conduct where it is plainly indicated as a matter of
logical probability." State v. Delmarter, 94 Wn.2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 (1980).
First Degree Burglary
Under RCW 9A.52.020(1),
[a] person is guilty of burglary in the first degree if, with intent to commit a crime
against a person or property therein, he or she enters or remains unlawfully in a
building and if, in entering or while in the building or in immediate flight therefrom,
the actor or another participant in the crime ... is armed with a deadly
weapon .. . .[1]
1The court did not instruct the jury that first degree burglary also occurs when the
defendant "assaults any person" during the commission. RCW 9A.52.020(1 )(b).
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The legislature defined the phrase "deadly weapon"2 but not the term "armed."
Cervantes claims to prove "armed" requires the State to show a willingness and present
ability to use the gun.
In State v. Hall. 46 Wn. App. 689, 732 P.2d 524 (1987), the defendant was
convicted of first degree burglary on evidence that he and another man removed an
unloaded rifle and ammunition from a house. Division Three of this court defined the
principal issue:
[Wjhether possession of firearms taken in the course of a burglary constitutes
being "armed with a deadly weapon" as required by RCW 9A.52.020(1 )(a) for
conviction of first degree burglary, when the guns are not loaded, but ammunition
is taken as well, and the guns and ammunition are transported to the trunk of a
car.
Hall. 46 Wn. App. at 693. Finding no controlling Washington case law, the court
adopted the definition of "armed" from a case involving a deadly weapon sentence
enhancement. The court concluded that a defendant is armed for purposes of the first
degree burglary statute if "a weapon is 'easily accessible and readily available for use
by the defendant for either offensive or defensive purposes.'" Hall, 46 Wn. App. at 694(quoting State v. Sabala. 44 Wn. App. 444, 448, 723 P.2d 5 (1986)). The court
specifically rejected Hall's contention that "armed" requires evidence that the accused
must use the deadly weapon in a manner indicating a willingness or present ability to
2 Under RCW 9A.04.110(6), "'[djeadly weapon' means any explosive or loaded or
unloaded firearm, and shall include any other weapon, device, instrument, article, or
substance, including a "vehicle" as defined in this section, which, under the
circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used, or threatened to be used, is
readily capable of causing death or substantial bodily harm."
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use it.3 The court then held that if the weapon at issue is per se dangerous (i.e., all
firearms), then "no analysis of willingness or present ability to use a firearm as a deadly
weapon is needed." HaN, 46 Wn. App. at 695; accord State v. Speece. 56 Wn. App.
412, 416, 783 P.2d 1108 (1989), affd 115 Wn.2d 360, 798 P.2d 294 (1990). The court
concluded, "For purposes of first degree burglary, the defendant is armed with a deadly
weapon if a firearm is 'easily accessible and readily available for use by the defendant
for either offensive or defensive purposes.'" Hall, 46 Wn. App. at 695 (quoting Sabala,
44 Wn. App. at 448).
Hall concluded that the defendant's removal of the rifle and ammunition was
"more than is required to be armed with a deadly weapon." Hal], 46 Wn. App. at 695-
96. The court noted that the ready availability of the rifle and ammunition created "a
possibility of violence to anyone discovering the burglary in progress." Hall, 46 Wn.
App. at 695.
In State v. Faille. 53 Wn. App. 111, 766 P.2d 478 (1988), we applied Hall's
rationale to resolve a similar armed with a deadly weapon issue. The evidence
established that Faille and an accomplice took unloaded guns and other property from a
house and stashed them in nearby bushes. Faille. 53 Wn. App. at 112. On appeal,
Faille argued that since he took unloaded firearms during the burglary, they were not
easily accessible or readily available and he possessed no intent to load or use them,
as required under the armed with a deadly weapon burglary first degree statute.
Relying on Hall's rationale, we held that sufficient evidence supported the defendant's
3 In Sabala. the defendant possessed a loaded pistol found directly under the
driver's seat.
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first degree burglary conviction. Faille. 53 Wn. App. at 115. We concluded, "[T]he guns
were readily accessible and available for use, even though they were unloaded and
there is no evidence that Faille knew there was ammunition in the house." Faille. 53
Wn. App. at 115.
Relying on State v. Brown. 162 Wn.2d 422, 173 P.3d 245 (2007), Cervantes
argues that "armed" requires more than removal of a gun from a home during a
burglary. He asserts the State must establish that the defendant or accomplice
intended to or was willing to use the weapon to further the crime.
In Brown, the evidence established that Brown or his accomplice merely moved
an unloaded rifle from a closet to a nearby bed. They also removed property from
under the bed but left a pistol untouched. Brown. 162 Wn.2d at 430-31. Later, Brown
and his accomplice talked about guns and "expressed a desire to have gotten the
guns," but said nothing "indicating that either of them moved the rifle or knew of its
existence during the crime." Brown. 162 Wn.2d at 431. The court viewed the
dispositive issue as "whether under these facts, where a weapon was moved during a
burglary, ifthat evidence is sufficient to establish that a defendant is armed." Brown,
162 Wn.2d 431. Reversing Brown's conviction, the court reasoned:
mere close proximity of the weapon to the defendant, or constructive possession
alone is insufficient to show that the defendant is armed. ...
Here, the crime was burglary and the type of weapon was a rifle at the
scene. However, the circumstance under which the weapon was found does not
support a conclusion that Brown was "armed" as intended by the legislature. . . .
No evidence exists that Brown or his accomplice handled the rifle on the bed at
any time during the crime in a manner indicative of an intent or willingness to use
it in furtherance of the crime. In fact, Hill's testimony indicates that the weapon
here was regarded as nothing more than valuable property.
Brown. 162 Wn.2d 431-32.
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Unlike in Brown, Cervantes and his coparticipants removed the gun from the
home and left other valuable property behind. In responding to the dissent's criticism of
the intent or willingness to use the weapon requirement, the majority left intact the Hall
and Faille rationale, discussed above, "because in those cases weapons were removed
from the homes." Brown. 162 Wn.2d at 250 n.4. The circumstances here are nearly
identical to Hall and Faille.4
Finally, in In re Personal Restraint of Martinez. 171 Wn.2d 354, 256 P.3d 277(2011),5 a case addressing whether the knife used in a burglary constituted a deadly
weapon, the court cited Hall with approval:
Conversely, State v. Hall. 46 Wn. App. 689, 732 P.2d 524 (1987), involved
deadly weapons per se, namely firearms taken in the course of a burglary.
Because the firearm was a deadly weapon per se, Division Three reasoned that
"no analysis of willingness or present ability to use a firearm as a deadly weapon"
was necessary under RCW 9A.04.110(6). Id. at 695; see also State v. Speece,
56 Wn. App. 412, 416, 783 P.2d 1108 (1989) (no inquiry into willingness or
present ability to use weapon is necessary for deadly weapon per se); State v.
Faille. 53 Wn. App. 111, 766 P.2d 478 (1988) (sufficient evidence to sustain first
degree burglary conviction where defendant was in possession of unloaded
firearms but did not intend to use them).
Martinez. 171 Wn.2d at 367. We conclude sufficient evidence supports Cervantes's first
degree burglary conviction.
Theft of a Firearm
Cervantes argues insufficient evidence to support his accomplice liability for theft
of a firearm. This claim fails because the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to
4 The State relies on State v. Hernandez. 172 Wn. App. 537, 290 P.3d 1052(2012), but that case is pending review before our Supreme Court.
5We note that neither party cites to Martinez.
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the State shows that Cervantes acted with general knowledge that he was promoting or
facilitating the theft of a firearm.
Under Washington's accomplice liability statute, a person is guilty of a crime
committed by another's conduct if he or she is an "accomplice of such other person in
the commission of the crime." RCW 9A.08.020(2)(c). The statute defines "accomplice"
as follows:
(3) A person is an accomplice of another person in the commission of a
crime if:
(a) With knowledge that itwill promote or facilitate the commission of the
crime, he or she:
(i) Solicits, commands, encourages, or requests such other person to
commit it; or
(ii) Aids or agrees to aid such other person in planning or committing it; or
(b) His or her conduct is expressly declared by law to establish his or her
complicity.
RCW 9A.08.020(3). This definition indicates that the legislature "intended the culpability
of an accomplice not extend beyond the crimes of which the accomplice actually has
'knowledge,' the mens rea of RCW 9A.08.020." State v. Roberts. 142 Wn.2d 471, 511,
14 P.3d 713 (2000) (disapproving jury instruction stating in part, "'A person is legally
accountable for the conduct of another person when he is an accomplice of such other
person in the commission of a crime.'") (emphasis added)).
Though an accomplice must act with knowledge that he or she is promoting or
facilitating the charged crime, he or she "need not have knowledge of each element of
the principal's crime in order to be convicted under RCW 9A.08.020." Roberts. 142
Wn.2d at 513. "General knowledge of 'the crime' is sufficient." Roberts. 142 Wn.2d at
513. Accordingly, an accomplice need not act with knowledge that he or she is
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promoting or facilitating a particular degree of the charged crime. State v. Cronin. 142
Wn.2d 568, 581-82, 14 P.3d 752 (2000).
Here, the charged crime was theft of a firearm. "A person is guilty of theft of a
firearm if he or she commits a theft of any firearm." RCW 9A.56.300(1). A "firearm" is
"a weapon or device from which a projectile or projectiles may be fired by an explosive
such as gunpowder." RCW 9.41.010(7); RCW 9A.56.300(5). There is no dispute that
Cervantes or one of the men removed a "firearm" from Richie's house.
The evidence supports accomplice liability if Cervantes aided another person in
planning or committing the theft of a firearm, with general knowledge that he was
promoting or facilitating that crime. RCW 9A.08.020(3); Roberts. 142 Wn.2d at 513.
The parties disagree whether any of the men specifically intended to steal a gun. But
Cervantes does not dispute, nor could he, that the evidence was sufficient to sustain
accomplice liability under the general theft statute, RCW 9A.56.020 - .050.6
The evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the State establishes that
Cervantes drove two men to Richie's house and at least two of them broke in to look for
items to steal. Inside the house, the men opened a laundry room cabinet, a dresser
drawer, and a nightstand drawer. One of the men took a gun hidden under a stack of
clothing in the nightstand drawer. The men fled when Richie interrupted the burglary.
Cervantes aided their escape by attacking Richie and grabbing her phone when she
tried to relay license plate information to her husband. From this evidence, a rational
trier of fact could find that Cervantes was at least an accomplice to theft.
6 Under RCW 9A.56.020(1)(a), "theft" means: "To wrongfully obtain or exert
unauthorized control over the property or services of another or the value thereof, with
intent to deprive him or her of such property or services . . . ."
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The core issue is whether evidence sufficient to sustain accomplice liability for
"theft" is also sufficient to sustain accomplice liability for "theft of a firearm," when the
only property taken is a gun. Relying on Roberts and Cronin. Cervantes maintains that
because theft and theft of a firearm are technically different crimes, an accomplice to
theft is not an accomplice to theft of a firearm. The State argues that for purposes of
accomplice liability, no principled distinction exists between theft and theft of a firearm.
Although theft and theft of a firearm are different crimes, the offenses are closely
related. As originally enacted, the theft of a firearm statute did not define theft. See
Laws of 1994, 1st Spec. Sess., ch. 7, §432. But in 1995, as part of the Hard Time for
Armed Crime Act (Initiative 159), the legislature clarified, "The definition of 'theft' and the
defense allowed against the prosecution for theft under RCW 9A.56.020 [the general
theft statute] shall apply to the crime of theft of a firearm." Laws of 1995, ch. 129, § 10
(emphasis added), now codified as RCW 9A.56.300(4); see State v. Miller. 92 Wn. App.
693, 705, 964 P.2d 1196 (1998). Thus, as a substantive matter, theft of a firearm is
simply a "theft" where the propertytaken is a gun. We conclude that, for purposes of
Cervantes's accomplice liability under Roberts and Cronin. the "crime charged" is theft.
Cervantes argues that theft of a firearm is distinct from theft for purposes of
accomplice liability because the former carries a higher seriousness level than any
degree of theft. But the potential for punishment is hardly dispositive. In Sarausad v.
State, 109 Wn. App. 824, 39 P.3d 308 (2001), we reasoned that a defendant who
generally knows he or she is facilitating a homicide can be convicted as an accomplice
to first degree murder, second degree murder, or manslaughter. Sarausad. 109 Wn.
App. at 836. The vast range of punishments associated with these crimes shows that
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the potential for punishment is not a reliable indicator of whether separate crimes are
distinct for purposes of accomplice liability under Roberts and Cronin.
The critical factor is the conduct that forms the basis for a set of crimes. The
Roberts court established this principle by relying on the comment to Model Penal Code
§ 2.06(3)(a), which is identical to Washington's accomplice liability statute. The Model
Penal Code comment states that an accomplice is one who has "'the purpose to
promote or facilitate the particular conduct that forms the basis for the charge . . ..'"
Roberts. 142 Wn.2d at 510 (quoting Model Penal Code § 2.06, cmt. 6(b) (1985)).
Here, the "particular conduct" that forms the basis for both theft and theft of a firearm is
the same—both crimes require a "theft," as defined by the general theft statute (RCW
9A.56.020). Theft of a firearm is distinguishable from theft only by the nature of the
property taken. Sufficient evidence supports Cervantes's theft of a firearm conviction.
Jury Instruction
Cervantes contends jury instruction 3 misstates the reasonable doubt standard.
The instruction provides, in part:
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from
the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of
a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the
evidence or lack of evidence. If, from such consideration, you have an abiding
belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.
He argues that the instruction misstates the reasonable doubt standard by "equating
proof beyond a reasonable doubt with a 'belief in the truth' of the charge . . . ."7 Br. of
7To the extent Cervantes argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by
paraphrasing and discussing instruction 3's "abiding belief language during closing
arguments, the argument is inadequately briefed. See Palmer v. Jensen. 81 Wn. App.
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Appellant at 16. The court's instruction used WPIC 4.01's reasonable doubt definition,
which our Supreme Court expressly approved in State v. Bennett. 161 Wn.2d 303, 165
P.3d 1241 (2007). In Bennett, the court stated, "Trial courts are instructed to use the
WPIC 4.01 instruction to inform the jury of the government's burden to prove every
element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Bennett. 161 Wn.2d at 318.
Cervantes argues that Bennett's unequivocal approval of WPIC 4.01 was called
into doubt by the Supreme Court's recent decision in State v. Emery. 174 Wn.2d 741,
760, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). In Emery, the prosecutor stated during closing arguments
that the jury's verdict "'should speak the truth.'" Emery. 174 Wn.2d at 751. On appeal,
the court held that the reference to truth was improper, but any error was harmless.
Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 765. The court's opinion contained no discussion of WPIC 4.01 or
its "abiding belief language. The claim fails under Bennett.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, we affirm Cervantes's convictions.
WE CONCUR:
V_^wi?a,r^
148, 153, 913 P.2d 413 (1996) ("Passing treatment of an issue or lack of reasoned
argument is insufficient to merit judicial consideration.").
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