State Of Washington v. Robert Lewis Shaw ( 2020 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
June 9, 2020
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 53024-4-II
Respondent,
v.
ROBERT LEWIS SHAW, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
MELNICK, J. — Following a bench trial, the trial court found Robert Lewis Shaw guilty of
assault in the second degree and malicious mischief in the first degree. Shaw appeals, arguing
sufficient evidence does not support his assault conviction. Shaw further alleges the trial court
improperly imposed a community custody supervision fee as part of Shaw’s legal financial
obligations (LFOs). In his statement of additional grounds (SAG), Shaw alleges numerous
instances of ineffective assistance of counsel.
We affirm Shaw’s convictions, but remand for the trial court to review whether the
community custody supervision fee should be stricken from Shaw’s judgment and sentence.
FACTS1
On March 20, 2018, John Gibson drove his vehicle westbound on State Route (SR) 12 in
the left lane, with Shaw following him in a truck. There were many cars on the road, it was foggy,
1
The following facts rely in part on the trial court’s findings of fact, which, with the exception of
findings of fact 4 and 5, are unchallenged and therefore verities on appeal. State v. Homan, 181
Wn.2d 102, 106, 330 P.3d 182 (2014).
53024-4-II
and traffic was moving slowly. Shaw was angry at the slow pace of traffic and verbally expressed
his frustration.
After a truck travelling ahead of Gibson moved to the right lane, Shaw closed the distance
between him and Gibson. Gibson could not go any faster because another car was ahead of him.
Gibson tapped his breaks. Shaw intentionally rear-ended Gibson’s car three times. After
Gibson pulled over, Shaw pulled in front of Gibson’s vehicle, put his truck in reverse, and
intentionally struck Gibson’s vehicle again. Gibson’s airbag deployed. As a result of the collision,
Gibson suffered injuries to his back, shoulder, and neck. His vehicle was totaled.
The State charged Shaw with assault in the second degree and malicious mischief in the
first degree. Shaw waived his right to a jury trial and the matter proceeded to a bench trial.
The court admitted exhibit 1, a recording from Shaw’s dashboard camera, without
objection. It shows Shaw’s extreme anger at Gibson for not driving fast enough. Shaw neared
Gibson’s back bumper and said, “C’mon. Don’t go slower or I will push your f***ing car, mother
f***er.” Ex. 1. Gibson tapped his brakes, which angered Shaw more. Shaw stated, “Hey, man,
you wanna hit your brakes in the fast lane?” Ex 1. Shaw then accelerated, striking Gibson’s
vehicle from behind three times. The video shows Gibson pull over to the left shoulder. Shaw
went to the right shoulder and while still angry, cursed at Gibson. Shaw then crossed two lanes of
traffic, pulled in front of Gibson, put his truck in reverse, and rammed into the front of Gibson’s
vehicle.
Two motorist who witnessed the events testified. Danielle Hooper observed Shaw driving
“inches away” from Gibson before rear-ending him. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Oct. 18, 2018)
at 30. Kristopher Kay observed Gibson parked on the left shoulder. He then saw Shaw pull in
front of Gibson, put his vehicle in reverse, and strike Gibson’s car. Gibson appeared dazed. Kay
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saw Shaw get out of his truck and walk towards Gibson “very aggressively.” RP (Oct. 18, 2018)
at 37. Concerned for Gibson’s safety, Kay pulled over and called 911.
Gibson also testified, stating that he tapped his brakes while Shaw tailgated him. Shaw
then struck the back of Gibson’s vehicle three times. Gibson pulled off to the left shoulder while
Shaw initially drove to the right shoulder. Shaw then crossed the highway to the left shoulder and
stopped in front of Gibson’s car. Shaw put his truck in reverse and “slammed” into Gibson’s
vehicle, causing the airbags to deploy. RP (Oct. 18, 2018) at 48.
Following the bench trial, the court entered findings of fact, including:
4.
[Gibson] tapped his brakes when [Shaw’s] truck neared his rear bumper, as
evidenced by the illumination of his brake lights. However, this action did not
cause a collision. In response to [Gibson’s] brake lights, [Shaw] stated that his
intent was to hit [Gibson’s] car. [Shaw] then accelerated, and intentionally came
into contact with the back of [Gibson’s] vehicle. When [Shaw’s] car hit [Gibson’s]
car, [Shaw] continued to accelerate to keep on [Gibson’s] bumper. This contact
caused major damage to [Gibson’s] back bumper, and caused pieces to fall off the
car, as observed by motorists Danielle Hooper and [Kristopher] Kay.
[Gibson] reports feeling [Shaw’s] vehicle pushing his own three times,
which is consistent with the video. [Gibson] felt like he was going to lose control
of his vehicle due to the impact.
5.
[Gibson] was able to separate his car from [Shaw’s]. [Gibson] then moved
his damaged vehicle to the left hand shoulder. [Shaw] moved to the right hand
shoulder, then crossed two lanes of traffic to enter the left hand shoulder. [Shaw]
then shifted into reverse and accelerated with the intention of ramming [Gibson’s]
vehicle. [Shaw] did ram [Gibson’s] vehicle intentionally and maliciously, causing
more damage to [Gibson’s] vehicle.
Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 98.
The court concluded that Shaw “intentionally assaulted [Gibson] with his motor vehicle”
and that the vehicle was “a deadly weapon.” CP at 100. The court found Shaw guilty.
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The court sentenced Shaw to 4 months of incarceration with 12 months of community
custody. The court ordered Shaw to pay community custody “supervision fees as determined by
[the Department of Corrections].” CP at 105. During the sentencing hearing, the court stated, “To
me [Shaw] remains indigent, so we’ll just impose the . . . required assessment.” RP (Dec. 3, 2018)
at 25. The court also found Shaw indigent for purposes of appeal. Shaw appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Shaw first contends that sufficient evidence does not support his assault in the second
degree conviction because he lacked the intent to cause physical injury or to cause fear of bodily
injury. Shaw challenges findings of fact 4 and 5. We disagree.
The test for determining sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the evidence
in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Cardenas-Flores, 189 Wn.2d 243, 265, 401 P.3d 19 (2017). Following
a bench trial, we review a trial court’s ruling to determine whether substantial evidence supports
the trial court’s contested findings of fact and whether the findings of fact support the conclusions
of law. State v. Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102, 105-06, 330 P.3d 182 (2014). We treat findings of fact
supported by substantial evidence and unchallenged findings of fact as verities on appeal. Homan,
181 Wn.2d at 106. We review de novo challenges to the trial court’s conclusions of law. Homan,
181 Wn.2d at 106.
In a sufficiency of the evidence claim, the defendant admits the truth of the evidence, and
the court views the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn from that evidence in the light
most favorable to the State. Cardenas-Flores, 189 Wn.2d at 265-66. Credibility determinations
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are made by the trier of fact and are not subject to review. Cardenas-Flores, 189 Wn.2d at 266.
Circumstantial and direct evidence are equally reliable. Cardenas-Flores, 189 Wn.2d at 266.
To prove assault in the second degree, the State needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that Shaw intentionally assaulted Gibson with a deadly weapon. RCW 9A.36.021(1)(c). There
are three common law definitions of assault: “‘(1) an attempt, with unlawful force, to inflict bodily
injury upon another; (2) an unlawful touching with criminal intent; and (3) putting another in
apprehension of harm whether or not the actor intends to inflict or is incapable of inflicting that
harm.’” Clark v. Baines, 150 Wn.2d 905, 908 n.3, 84 P.3d 245 (2004) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting State v. Aumick, 126 Wn.2d 422, 426 n.12, 894 P.2d 1325 (1995)).
Shaw contends his actions were not intentional. “‘[Intent] can be inferred as a logical
probability from all the facts and circumstances.’” State v. Yarbrough, 151 Wn. App. 66, 87, 210
P.3d 1029 (2009) (quoting State v. Wilson, 125 Wn.2d 212, 217, 883 P.2d 320 (1994)).
In State v. Baker, 136 Wn. App. 878, 882, 151 P.3d 237 (2007), the defendant saw a police
officer on a motorcycle in a parking lot and accelerated towards the motorcycle. The officer
jumped off the motorcycle right before Baker hit the front end. Baker, 136 Wn. App. at 882. We
affirmed the assault in the second degree conviction, concluding that “[a]ssault by actual battery
consists of an intentional touching or striking . . . [t]herefore, the State need show only the intention
to touch or strike, not the intent to injure.” Baker, 136 Wn. App. at 883-84.
Here, the State showed intention to strike. The dashboard camera recording and the
witnesses’ testimony provide substantial evidence to support findings of fact 4 and 5. The findings
of fact support the conclusions of law and sufficient evidence supports Shaw’s conviction for
assault in the second degree.
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II. LFOS
Shaw next argues that the trial court erred in requiring him to pay “supervision fees as
determined by [the Department of Corrections].” CP at 105. He contends that RCW 10.01.160
prohibits the imposition of costs on an indigent defendant.
Shaw was indigent throughout the trial court proceedings and remains indigent on appeal.
However, it is unclear whether the court knew that the supervision fees were discretionary.
Accordingly, we remand to the trial court to review whether the community custody supervision
fee should be stricken from Shaw’s judgment and sentence.
III. SAG ISSUES2
Shaw asserts numerous instances of alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. We reject
his claims.
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant must show both
(1) that defense counsel’s representation was deficient and (2) that the deficient representation
prejudiced the defendant. State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 32-33, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).
Representation is deficient if, after considering all the circumstances, “it falls ‘below an objective
standard of reasonableness.’” State v. Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450, 458, 395 P.3d 1045 (2017) (quoting
State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995)). Generally, a court will not
find ineffective assistance of counsel if the actions of counsel complained of go to the theory of
the case or to trial tactics. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856, 863, 215 P.3d 177 (2009). Prejudice
exists if there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding
2
Shaw attaches three documents to his SAG in support of his arguments, but the documents are
not in our record. RAP 10.3(a)(8) provides, “An appendix may not include materials not contained
in the record on review without permission from the appellate court.” Accordingly, documents
not included in our record will not be considered.
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would have been different. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. It is not enough that ineffective assistance
conceivably impacted the case’s outcome; the defendant must affirmatively show prejudice. Estes,
188 Wn.2d at 458.
A. Ground One–Additional Video
Under this assertion, Shaw alleges that a separate video with additional recordings from
his dashboard camera, shows he was calm and not the aggressor and shows there were other
witnesses on the highway that could have proven his innocence. Shaw apparently alleges defense
counsel’s performance was deficient for not presenting this evidence at trial. Shaw filed a motion
to supplement our record with this additional video and we granted the motion for the limited
purpose of addressing Shaw’s SAG issues.
After reviewing the supplemental recording, there is no showing that defense counsel’s
performance was deficient for not introducing additional evidence or calling additional witnesses.
The recording shows Shaw calm before driving on the highway, but his anger quickly escalated.
Even if Shaw could show deficient performance, he fails to explain how the result of the
proceeding would have been different. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. Here, the dashboard camera
recording and the testimony from Hooper, Kay, and Gibson all provide overwhelming evidence
that Shaw intended to strike Gibson when he rear-ended Gibson three times and then pulled in
front of Gibson, put his vehicle in reverse, and smashed into Gibson’s vehicle again. Because
Shaw cannot show prejudice, his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel relating to the
supplemental recording fail.
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B. Ground One–Additional Evidence
Shaw also contends in ground one that counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he
neglected to present evidence at trial that Shaw’s vehicle was a Dodge Dakota long box, 5-speed
manual transmission truck with split differentials; did not research whether Gibson was using his
handbrake to slow his vehicle while driving on the highway; did not introduce evidence regarding
the insurance claim following the accident; and did not introduce evidence that Shaw is a public
employee. All of these arguments rely entirely on matters outside our record; therefore, we do not
address them.
C. Ground Two–Failure to Present Evidence
Shaw raises additional allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel in ground two,
arguing defense counsel failed to present evidence of Shaw’s medical conditions, counsel’s law
partner made inappropriate comments to Shaw, counsel was not diligent because Gibson was a
fellow defense attorney, counsel discussed confidential matters in public, counsel provided a
“kangaroo court” defense, counsel should have admitted evidence that Shaw does not struggle with
anger management, and counsel did not properly advise Shaw how to get his truck out from
impound. SAG at 3. Similar to his arguments in ground one, Shaw’s assertions under ground two
rely entirely on matters outside the record. For this reason, we do not address them further.
We affirm but remand for the trial court to review whether the community custody
supervision fees should be stricken from Shaw’s judgment and sentence.
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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.
Melnick, J.
We concur:
Sutton, A.C.J.
Cruser, J.
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