State Of Washington v. John Ring

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
December 15, 2015
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 46145-5-II
consolidated with
Respondent, No. 46155-2-II
and
v. No. 46345-8-II
JOHN RICHARD RING, PUBLISHED IN PART OPINION
Appellant.
MAXA, J. — John Ring appeals his convictions for three counts of forgery, one count of
possession of a controlled substance, three counts of first degree possession of stolen property,
one count of first degree trafficking in stolen property, and three counts of bail jumping.1 In the
published portion of this opinion, we hold that the information charging Ring with forgery was
not deficient in failing to allege the “legal efficacy” of the forged documents because legal
efficacy is not an essential element of the crime. Therefore, we affirm Ring’s three forgery
convictions. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we reverse and dismiss the remaining
challenged convictions. Accordingly, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for
resentencing.
1
Ring also was convicted of several other offenses, but does not challenge those convictions on
appeal.
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FACTS
In September 2012, the Mason County Sherriff’s Office began investigating Ring after
receiving a complaint that he was attempting to sell a stolen 1968 GMC truck on Craigslist.
Eventually, officers obtained a search warrant to search Ring’s property.
When searching Ring’s property, deputies found papers depicting an abandoned vehicle
report with a notary sale and process stamp, a number of affidavits of lost title and release of
interest forms, the vehicle certificate of title for the 1968 GMC truck, and numerous other
miscellaneous vehicle titles and documents. These documents were very similar to purportedly
forged documents that Ring had submitted to the Department of Licensing.
The State charged Ring with three counts of forgery. The information recited the
statutory elements of forgery, but did not allege that the documents Ring allegedly forged had
any legal efficacy if genuine. Ring did not challenge the information in the trial court.
A jury convicted Ring on all three forgery counts. He appeals his convictions.
ANALYSIS
Ring argues that the “legal efficacy” of the forged documents is an essential element of
forgery, and that the information for his forgery charges was insufficient because it did not
include a legal efficacy element. We disagree that legal efficacy of the forged documents is an
essential element of the crime of forgery and hold that the information here was sufficient.
A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
In criminal cases, accused persons have a constitutional right under the Sixth Amendment
to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution to know
the charges that have been brought against them. The State provides formal notice of the charges
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in the information or charging document. CrR 2.1(a)(1) (“[T]he information shall be a plain,
concise and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged.”).
A charging document is constitutionally sufficient if it includes all the “essential
elements” of a crime. State v. Johnson, 180 Wash. 2d 295, 300, 325 P.3d 135 (2014). The purpose
of this essential elements rule is to give notice to the accused of the charges and to allow him or
her to prepare a defense. Id. An essential element of an offense is an element that is necessary
to establish the illegality of the behavior charged. Id. Essential elements include only those facts
that must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a defendant of the charged crime.
State v. Zillyette, 178 Wash. 2d 153, 158, 307 P.3d 712 (2013). “If the State fails to allege every
essential element, then the information is insufficient and the charge must be dismissed without
prejudice.” Johnson, 180 Wash. 2d at 300-01.
The law distinguishes between essential elements of a crime and the definitions of
essential elements. See id. at 302. The Supreme Court in Johnson expressly held that definitions
of essential elements are not required to be included in the information. Id.
We review the constitutional sufficiency of a charging document de novo. Id. at 300.
Where, as here, a defendant challenges the sufficiency of a charging document for the first time
on appeal, “we construe the document liberally and will find it sufficient if the necessary
elements appear in any form, or by fair construction may be found, on the document’s face.”
State v. Satterthwaite, 186 Wash. App. 359, 362, 344 P.3d 738 (2015). But if the charging
document cannot be construed to give notice of or to contain in some manner the essential
elements of an offense, it is insufficient and even the most liberal reading cannot cure it. Id. at
362-63.
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B. LEGAL EFFICACY REQUIREMENT
RCW 9A.60.020(1) provides,
A person is guilty of forgery if, with intent to injure or defraud: (a) He or she
falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument or; (b) He or she
possesses, utters, offers, disposes of, or puts off as true a written instrument which
he or she knows to be forged.
(Emphasis added.) Under this statute, the existence of a written instrument clearly is an essential
element of the crime of forgery. See State v. Esquivel, 71 Wash. App. 868, 870, 863 P.2d 113
(1993).
RCW 9A.60.010(7) defines “written instrument” as,
(a) Any paper, document, or other instrument containing written or printed matter
or its equivalent; or (b) any access device, token, stamp, seal, badge, trademark,
or other evidence or symbol of value, right, privilege, or identification.
Under this definition, forgery requires the falsification of a paper, document, or “other
instrument.” RCW 9A.60.010(7). However, neither RCW 9A.60.020(1) nor RCW 9A.60.010(7)
defines “instrument.” Therefore, Washington courts have looked to the common law for the
definition. State v. Scoby, 117 Wash. 2d 55, 57, 810 P.2d 1358, 815 P.2d 1362 (1991); see RCW
9A.04.060 (stating that the common law governing the commission of crimes supplements
Washington penal statutes to the extent that the common law is not inconsistent with
Washington’s Constitution or statutes).
Under the common law, an instrument is something that, if genuine, would have legal
effect or be the foundation of legal liability. Scoby, 117 Wash. 2d at 57-58. As a result, a “written
instrument” as used in RCW 9A.60.020, is a writing that has “legal efficacy.” State v. Richards,
109 Wash. App. 648, 654, 36 P.3d 1119 (2001). Based on this definition, a writing can support a
4
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forgery charge only if the writing would have legal efficacy if genuine. State v. Smith, 72 Wn.
App. 237, 243, 864 P.2d 406 (1993).
The rule of legal efficacy was part of Washington forgery law under former chapter 9.44
RCW from 1909 until 1975. Id. at 239. This court in Smith held that the legislature intended to
continue the legal efficacy rule under the current forgery statutes, which were enacted in 1975.
Id. at 240-43.
C. LEGAL EFFICACY AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF FORGERY
Here, the information that charged Ring with three counts of forgery stated that he
committed forgery when he “with intent to injure or defraud, did falsely make, complete or alter
a written instrument, and/or did possess, utter, offer, dispose of, or put off as true a written
instrument which he knew to be forged . . . ; contrary to RCW 9A.60.020(1).” Clerk’s Papers
(CP) (case no. 46145-5-II) at 68, 69. The information did not allege that the documents Ring
allegedly forged had any legal efficacy if genuine. Therefore, the information was insufficient if
legal efficacy is an essential element of forgery.
Ring’s argument that the legal efficacy of the forged document is an essential element of
forgery primarily is based on State v. Kuluris, 132 Wash. 149, 231 P. 782 (1925). In that case,
the Supreme Court determined that an information charging second degree forgery was
constitutionally insufficient because the information failed to allege that the forged document
had legal efficacy. Id. at 150-52. The court based its holding on the rule that to constitute a
forgery, a writing must, if genuine, have efficacy as affecting some legal right. Id. at 151.
Kuluris supports Ring’s argument that the information here was insufficient because it
did not allege facts sufficient to show that the documents at issue would have legal efficacy if
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genuine. And Kuluris has not been expressly overruled and was cited with approval (although
not in an essential elements context) in Smith. 72 Wash. App. at 239-40.
However, the Supreme Court in Johnson more recently has distinguished between an
essential element of a crime and a definition of an essential element when evaluating the
sufficiency of an information. 180 Wash. 2d at 300-02. The court held that an information did not
need to include definitions of essential elements of a crime. Id. at 302. The court explained that
a definition is a term that defines and limits an essential element’s scope, not a term that is
necessary to establish the illegality of the behavior charged. See id. at 302.
The language of RCW 9A.60.020 demonstrates that legal efficacy is not an essential
element of the crime of forgery. RCW 9A.60.020 requires the existence of a written instrument,
and that is the essential element. The Supreme Court in Scoby made it clear that legal efficacy is
part of the common law definition of “instrument.” 117 Wash. 2d at 57-58; see also Richards, 109
Wash. App. at 654. As a result, under Johnson the information charging Ring with forgery was not
required to allege the legal efficacy of the forged documents.
We are faced with a conflict between a 1925 case specifically addressing the sufficiency
of an information charging forgery and a 2014 case holding that definitions of essential elements
of a crime do not need to be included in the information. We hold that Kuluris is inconsistent
with Johnson, and therefore that Johnson abrogated Kuluris in the forgery context.
We hold that a document’s legal efficacy requirement is a common law definition of
“instrument” in RCW 9A.60.0020 and was not required to be included in the information
charging Ring with three counts of forgery. Accordingly, we hold that the information charging
Ring with forgery was sufficient.
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We affirm Ring’s three forgery convictions, reverse his remaining challenged convictions
in the unpublished portion of this opinion, and remand for resentencing.
A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion will
be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public record
in accordance with RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.
ADDITIONAL ISSUES
In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we hold that (1) as the State concedes, there
was insufficient evidence to support Ring’s conviction for first degree trafficking in stolen
property based on the language of the to-convict instruction; (2) the trial court erred by admitting
certain methamphetamine evidence without determining whether the officers were executing the
valid portion of a partially overbroad search warrant when they discovered drug evidence; (3) as
the State concedes, there was insufficient evidence to support one of Ring’s first degree
possession of stolen property convictions because the State failed to prove that the market value
of the stolen property exceeded $5,000; (4) there was insufficient evidence to support Ring’s
other possession of stolen property conviction because the State failed to prove that he
“concealed” the stolen property; (5) as the State concedes, Ring’s three bail jumping convictions
violated double jeopardy; and (6) the record is insufficient to address Ring’s assertion in his
statement of additional grounds (SAG) that his attorney was ineffective.2
2
Ring also argues, and the State concedes, that on remand the trial court must correct an error in
Ring’s judgment and sentence under cause number 12-1-00408-1. However, because we reverse
both convictions in that case, we do not address this issue.
7
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ADDITIONAL FACTS
Search of Ring’s and Speaks’ Property
In September 2012, the Mason County Sherriff’s Office obtained a search warrant to
search Ring’s property. The warrant authorized law enforcement to search for specific stolen
property and other items, as well as any contraband including controlled substances.
When searching Ring’s property, deputies discovered several suspected stolen items, as
well as an aluminum can that was smudged with a white powdery residue. This white powder
later was determined to be methamphetamine.
Law enforcement learned that Ring sometimes stored equipment at Troy Dean Speaks
Jr.’s property, and obtained and executed a search warrant for that property. During this search,
the deputies found equipment that they suspected was stolen, including a Wacker generator and a
Kubota backhoe. II RP 277-84, 386. According to Speaks, Ring brought the allegedly stolen
equipment onto Speaks’ property.
Criminal Charges
The State charged Ring under three cause numbers. Under cause number 12-1-00398-0,
Ring was charged with one count of first degree trafficking in stolen property regarding the 1968
GMC truck in addition to the three counts of forgery discussed above.3 II CP 67-71. Under
cause number 12-1-00406-4, Ring was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a
3
The State also charged Ring with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle (a 1968 GMC
truck and a 2003 Honda motorcycle), first degree possession of stolen property (several tools
including a tire balancing machine), and second degree possession of stolen property (a trailer).
Ring does not appeal these convictions.
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controlled substance. Under cause number 12-1-00408-1, Ring was charged with two counts of
first degree possession of stolen property (a Wacker generator and a Kubota backhoe).4
Bail Jumping
After Ring was formally charged, he was released under court order with a requirement
to appear in court on January 28, 2013. Ring failed to report on January 28. The State charged
him with three counts of bail jumping under the three separate cause numbers. In addition, the
State charged Ring with bail jumping under a fourth cause of action (not involved in this appeal)
based on the same facts.
Motion to Suppress
Ring brought a CrR 3.6 motion to suppress the methamphetamine residue found on the
aluminum can seized pursuant to the search warrant for Ring’s property, arguing that the warrant
was issued without probable cause. Paragraphs 1 through 6 of the warrant authorized law
enforcement to search for specific stolen property and other items,5 while paragraph 7 authorized
law enforcement to search for “[a]ny contraband (including controlled substances).” Ex. 1, at 3.
The trial court found that probable cause supported paragraphs 1 through 6 and that portion of
the warrant was valid. However, the trial court found that probable cause did not support
4
The State also charged Ring with a third count of first degree possession of stolen property
involving a Bobcat mini excavator, but he does not appeal that conviction.
5
The trial court paraphrased the content searchable under paragraphs 1 through 6 of the search
warrant as “a 1968 GMC truck, computers, digital devices, cable being used to gain access to the
internet, devices capable of taking and storing photographs, papers, photographs depicting
images of stolen truck or internet posting, correspondence, evidence related to the forging of a
title, but not limited to computer printer, paperwork reference filing for lost title of automobiles,
papers, receipts, bills, ledgers that can be used to determine and show ownership, dominion and
control.” I Report of Proceedings (RP) at 70-71.
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paragraph 7 and struck that paragraph. Therefore, the trial court suppressed the
methamphetamine evidence.
The State filed a motion for reconsideration of the trial court’s suppression order. The
State argued that even though paragraph 7 of the warrant was overbroad, the State’s warrantless
seizure of the aluminum can was proper under the plain view exception to the warrant
requirement. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on whether the seized aluminum can
could be admitted.
Deputy Jason Sisson of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office testified that he was present at
the execution of the search warrant at Ring’s property to assist with the search. Sisson
characterized the search as “a general search . . . of the area to begin with, and then . . . [a search
of] different areas in groups.” I Report of Proceedings (RP) at 56. He admitted at the hearing
that he was not aware of the purpose of the warrant, and could not remember exactly what the
deputies were searching for. Sisson testified that he was assigned to search a metal shipping
container, and that inside the container was an aluminum can with a white residue on it. He
testified that based on his training and experience, he immediately recognized that the white
residue appeared to more than likely be methamphetamine. No other officer testified regarding
the search.
The trial court found that Sisson was lawfully present in the shipping container to look
for stolen property identified by the valid portion of the warrant, and that Sisson properly seized
the aluminum can because he believed the white powdery substance was methamphetamine
based on his training and experience. Accordingly, the court reversed its prior suppression order
and admitted the methamphetamine evidence.
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Trial
The trial court consolidated cause numbers 12-1-00398-0, 12-1-00406-4, and 12-1-
00408-1 for trial.
The to-convict jury instruction for first degree trafficking of stolen property, to which the
State did not object, stated that the jury must find that Ring “knowingly initiated, organized,
planned, financed, directed, managed, or supervised” the theft of the 1968 GMC truck and “sold,
transferred, distributed, dispensed, or otherwise disposed of stolen property to another person or
bought, received, possessed, or obtained control of stolen property, with intent to sell, transfer,
distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of the property to another person with knowledge that
the property was stolen.” CP (cause no. 46145-5-II) at 49-50. The State presented no evidence
linking Ring to the theft of the truck.
The to-convict instruction for first degree possession of stolen property also required the
State to prove that the market value of the stolen property exceeded $5,000. A shop foreman
testified that the value of the particular Wacker generator involved in the case was $25,000. The
State did not produce any additional information on the market value of the generator.
The to-convict instruction for first degree possession of stolen property, to which the
State did not object, provided that the State must prove that Ring “knowingly received, retained,
possessed, concealed stolen property.” CP (case no. 46145-5-II) at 52. Regarding the
“concealed” element, the evidence showed that Ring stored the Kubota backhoe in plain sight on
Speaks’ property. There was no evidence that Ring or any other person attempted to cover or
alter the backhoe’s physical appearance.
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The jury found Ring guilty of first degree trafficking in stolen property, unlawful
possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first degree possession of stolen property,
and three counts of bail jumping.
Rings appeals his convictions.
ANALYSIS
A. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN PROPERTY
Ring argues, and the State concedes, that (1) the to-convict instruction for trafficking in
stolen property required the State to prove that Ring was trafficking in the property and that he
participated in the theft of the property, and (2) the evidence was insufficient to prove the second
element. We accept the State’s concession.
RCW 9A.82.050(1) provides one of two means of trafficking in stolen property: (1)
initiating, organizing, planning, financing, directing, managing, or supervising the theft of
property or (2) trafficking in stolen property. State v. Owens, 180 Wash. 2d 90, 96-99, 323 P.3d
1030 (2014). However, here the to-convict instruction – to which the State did not to object –
required the State to prove both means. 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. Hudlow, 182 Wash. App. 266, 285, 331 P.3d 90 (2014).
The State concedes that it failed to prove that Ring participated in the theft of the 1968
GMC truck. We accept the State’s concession and reverse and dismiss Ring’s conviction for
first degree trafficking in stolen property.
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B. ADMISSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE EVIDENCE
The trial court found that paragraphs 1 through 6 of the search warrant for Ring’s
property were valid, but that paragraph 7 – which allowed a search for controlled substances –
was not supported by probable cause. Ring argues that the trial court erred in admitting the
methamphetamine evidence because the State provided insufficient evidence that the
methamphetamine was discovered while executing the valid portion of the search warrant and
not the invalid portion. We agree.
1. Severability Analysis
A search warrant can be issued only if supported by probable cause. State v. Lyons, 174
Wash. 2d 354, 359, 275 P.3d 314 (2012). A warrant is “overbroad” if it describes items for which
probable cause does not exist. State v. Higgs, 177 Wash. App. 414, 426, 311 P.3d 1266 (2013),
review denied, 179 Wash. 2d 1024 (2014). A warrant is overbroad if some portions of a warrant are
supported by probable cause and some portions are not. Id. Neither party challenges the trial
court’s ruling that the search warrant for Ring’s property was partially overbroad – that probable
cause supported paragraphs 1 through 6 but did not support paragraph 7, which allowed a search
for controlled substances. Br. of Resp. at 11.
If a search warrant is partially overbroad, evidence seized pursuant to that warrant is not
necessarily inadmissible. Higgs, 177 Wash. App. at 430. Under the severability doctrine, if a
meaningful separation can be made between the valid and invalid portions of a warrant, evidence
seized pursuant to the valid portions of the warrant will not be suppressed. State v. Perrone, 119
Wash. 2d 538, 556, 834 P.2d 611 (1992); Higgs, 177 Wash. App. at 430. However, if the valid
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portions of the warrant cannot be severed, all evidence seized pursuant to the partially overbroad
warrant must be suppressed. See Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at 556-59.
In State v. Maddox, this court held that the severability doctrine applies only when five
requirements are met: (1) the warrant must lawfully have authorized entry into the premises; (2)
the warrant must include one or more particularly described items for which there is probable
cause; (3) the part of the warrant that includes particularly described items supported by probable
cause must be significant when compared to the warrant as a whole; (4) the searching officers
must have found and seized the disputed items while executing the valid part of the warrant; and
(5) the officers must not have conducted a general search in which they “flagrantly disregarded”
the warrant’s scope. 116 Wash. App. 796, 807-08, 67 P.3d 1135 (2003 aff’d, 152 Wash. 2d 499, 98
P.3d 1199 (2004); see also Higgs, 177 Wash. App. at 430-31. Conducting such an analysis is
required before admitting evidence seized pursuant to a partially overbroad warrant. See Higgs,
177 Wash. App. at 430.
Regarding the first factor, the trial court here found that officers were lawfully on the
property pursuant to the valid portion of the search warrant allowing a search for stolen property.
Regarding the second factor, the trial court previously had ruled that probable cause supported
paragraphs 1 through 6 of the warrant. And Ring does not dispute the third factor, that the valid
portion of the warrant was significant when compared to the warrant as a whole.
Ring argues that the fourth and fifth severability factors were not satisfied here. The
fourth factor is that the searching officers must have found and seized the disputed items while
executing the valid part of the warrant. Maddox, 116 Wash. App. at 808. The trial court found that
under the valid portion of the warrant it was appropriate for the officers to be searching the
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container where the methamphetamine evidence was discovered. But Ring claims that although
the officers could have been searching the container for stolen property, the evidence in fact
showed that Sisson was unfamiliar with the warrant and did not know what he was searching for.
Ring is correct that there is no evidence in this record that Sisson or any other law
enforcement officers were executing the valid portions of the warrant. Sisson testified that he
was merely present to assist detectives, and that he could not remember what the exact search
was for without referencing the warrant. The State argues that even without the invalid portion
of the warrant, officers would have searched the container for stolen property under the valid
portion. However, in the absence of any evidence regarding what the officers were searching
for, the evidence was insufficient to establish that the officers were searching for stolen property
as opposed to controlled substances.
The fifth factor is whether the officers were conducting a general search where they
flagrantly disregarded the warrant’s scope. Maddox, 116 Wash. App. at 808-09. Ring argues that
the State failed to establish that Sisson was not conducting a general search. The trial court made
no finding on this issue. Ring relies on Sisson’s testimony that he was conducting a “general
search,” and that he did not know what he was searching for. 1 RP at 59.
Ring is correct that there is no evidence in this record that the officers were not
conducting a general search. The State argues that officers were searching in a place where
evidence specifically authorized by the valid portion of the search warrant could have been
found. However, in the absence of any evidence regarding what officers were searching for, the
evidence is insufficient to establish that the officers were searching for stolen property as
opposed to conducting a general search in disregard of the warrant’s valid portions.
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The State failed to provide any evidence that would support a finding of admissibility
under the fourth and fifth factors of the severability analysis. Without any evidence regarding
what the officers were searching for at the time they discovered the methamphetamine evidence,
the valid portion of the warrant cannot be severed from the invalid portion. As a result, the
search warrant’s overbreadth invalidates the entire search warrant. See Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at
556-61. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court erred in admitting the methamphetamine
evidence without conducting the severability analysis.
2. Plain View Doctrine
The State argues that the correct analysis here is whether the evidence was admissible
under the plain view exception to the warrant requirement, not whether it was admissible under
the severability doctrine. Under the plain view doctrine, an officer must (1) have a valid
justification for the intrusion into a constitutionally protected area, and (2) be immediately able
to realize that an item they can see in plain view is associated with criminal activity. State v.
Weller, 185 Wash. App. 913, 926, 344 P.3d 695, review denied, 183 Wash. 2d 1010 (2015).
However, here the plain view analysis cannot be separated from the severability analysis.
The first requirement of the plain view doctrine is that officers must be lawfully present in the
area where the evidence was seized. See id. at 926-27. The State argues that this requirement
was satisfied because the valid portion of the warrant authorized officers to search the shipping
container. But officers were lawfully in the container only if the valid portions of the warrant
could be severed from the invalid portions. Because we hold that the valid and invalid portions
of the search warrant cannot be severed, the officers were not lawfully in the container when
they discovered the methamphetamine. Therefore, the plain view doctrine is inapplicable here.
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We hold that the trial court erred in admitting the methamphetamine evidence that
officers discovered while executing a search warrant on Ring’s property. Because this was the
only evidence supporting Ring’s conviction for possession of a controlled substance, we reverse
and dismiss this conviction.
C. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF MARKET VALUE
Ring argues that the State provided insufficient evidence that the Wacker generator’s
market value exceeded $5,000, which is a requirement of first degree possession of stolen
property. The State concedes this issue. We accept the State’s concession.
The State was required to prove that Ring possessed stolen property exceeding $5,000 in
value. RCW 9A.56.150(1). “Value” means “the market value of the property or services at the
time and in the approximate area of the criminal act.” RCW 9A.56.010(21)(a). In Washington,
market value is the price that a well-informed buyer would pay to a well-informed seller. State
v. Ehrhardt, 167 Wash. App. 934, 944, 276 P.3d 332 (2012).
Here, the only evidence the State presented as to the value of the Wacker generator was
the testimony of a shop foreman, who testified that the value of the particular type of Wacker
generator was $25,000. However, the State did not produce any evidence regarding the market
value of the generator at the time it was stolen. For example, there was no evidence about the
stolen generator’s age, extent of use, or condition.
We hold that the State failed to present sufficient evidence that the Wacker generator’s
market value exceeded $5,000, and therefore we reverse and dismiss Ring’s conviction for
possessing this stolen property.
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D. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF “CONCEALING” STOLEN PROPERTY
Ring argues that his first degree possession of stolen property conviction regarding the
Kubota backhoe was not supported by substantial evidence because the State failed to prove that
Ring “concealed” the backhoe.6 We agree.
1. State Assumed the Burden of Proving Alternative Means
RCW 9A.56.150(1) defines first degree possession of stolen property:
A person is guilty of possessing stolen property in the first degree if he or she
possesses stolen property, other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 or a
motor vehicle, which exceeds five thousand dollars in value.
RCW 9A.56.140(1) defines what it means to “possess” stolen property:
“Possessing stolen property” means knowingly to receive, retain, possess,
conceal, or dispose of stolen property knowing that it has been stolen and to
withhold or appropriate the same to the use of any person other than the true
owner or person entitled thereto.
In State v. Hayes, Division One of this court held that the “reference to ‘receive, retain, possess,
conceal, or dispose of stolen property’ in RCW 9A.56.140(1) is definitional . . . [and] does not
create alternative means of a crime.”7 164 Wash. App. 459, 477, 262 P.3d 538 (2011). We agree
with Division One’s analysis and holding in Hayes.
6
Ring makes the same argument for his first degree possession of stolen property conviction
regarding the Wacker generator. Because we reverse this conviction below based on the State’s
concession, we do not address this issue.
7
Ring cites State v. Lillard, 122 Wash. App. 422, 93 P.3d 969 (2004) to support his argument that
possession of stolen property is an alternative means crime. However, Lillard did not expressly
hold that possession of stolen property in the first degree is an alternative means crime. As
discussed later in this opinion, the court in Lillard held that inclusion in the to-convict instruction
of the means listed in the definitional statute required the State to prove those means. Id. at 434-
35.
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However, here the to-convict jury instruction for possession of stolen property required
the State to prove that Ring “knowingly received, retained, possessed, concealed stolen
property.” CP (case no. 46145-5-II) at 61, 63. The State did not object to this instruction. As
discussed above, under the law of the case doctrine 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. Hudlow, 182 Wash. App. at 285.
Division One of this court addressed this situation in the context of a possession of stolen
property to-convict instructions in State v. Lillard, 122 Wash. App. 422, 93 P.3d 969 (2004). In
Lillard, the to-convict instructions for first degree possessing stolen property required the State
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant “knowingly received, retained, possessed,
concealed, or disposed of stolen property.” Id. at 434. The court held that because the
defendant’s to-convict instructions listed alternative means of possessing stolen property, the
State was required to prove each of those means by sufficient evidence. Id. at 434-35.
The court in Hayes affirmed that Lillard stood for the proposition that “where the trial
court includes ‘knowingly received, retained, possessed, concealed or disposed of stolen
property’ in the to-convict instruction, these terms will be treated as alternative means the State
must prove.” 164 Wash. App. at 478-79.
Because the to-convict instructions required the State to prove that Ring concealed the
stolen property, the State assumed the burden of proving Ring’s concealment.
2. Insufficient Evidence
Ring contends that the State failed to present sufficient evidence that he concealed the
Kubota backhoe. The test for determining sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing
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the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found
the fact at issue beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Homan, 181 Wash. 2d 102, 105, 330 P.3d 182
(2014). In evaluating a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we assume the truth of the State’s
evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn from that evidence. Id. at 106. We defer to the
trier of fact’s resolution of conflicting testimony and evaluation of the persuasiveness of the
evidence. Id.
Here, Speaks testified that the backhoe was located in his backyard. The State did not
produce evidence that the backhoe was hidden, covered, physically altered, or otherwise
concealed. Instead, the State argues that Ring “concealed” the backhoe by storing it on property
that had no connection to him rather than storing it on his own property. Br. of Resp’t at 17-18.
However, the State provides no authority to support its argument. In the absence of such
authority, we hold that the State did not produce sufficient evidence to prove that Ring concealed
the Kubota backhoe, and therefore that Ring’s conviction for possessing this stolen property
must be reversed.
E. BAIL JUMPING CONVICTIONS VIOLATE DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Ring was convicted of four counts of bail jumping based on his failure to appear for court
on January 28, 2013; three counts in this case and a fourth count in a related case. He argues that
his four convictions for bail jumping constitute a single unit of prosecution, and therefore his
three convictions in this case violate double jeopardy. The State concedes this issue. We accept
the State’s concession and reverse Ring’s three bail jumping convictions in this case. Ring will
be punished only for the fourth bail jumping conviction in the related case.
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The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 9 of the
Washington Constitution prohibit double jeopardy. The prohibition on double jeopardy includes
that a person cannot receive multiple punishments for the same offense. State v. Villanueva–
Gonzalez, 180 Wash. 2d 975, 980, 329 P.3d 78 (2014). Determining whether Ring’s convictions
constitute multiple punishments for the same offense requires determination of legislative intent
and presents a question of statutory interpretation. Id. We review alleged violations of double
jeopardy de novo. Id. at 979-80.
When a defendant has multiple convictions under the same statutory provision, as here,
we apply the “unit of prosecution” analysis that asks what act or course of conduct the legislature
has defined as the punishable act. Id. at 980-81. If the statutory language is ambiguous, we
apply the rule of lenity and resolve the issue in a defendant’s favor. State v. Polk, 187 Wash. App.
380, 389, 348 P.3d 1255 (2015). We review unit of prosecution issues on appeal de novo. State
v. O’Brien, 164 Wash. App. 924, 928-29, 267 P.3d 422 (2011).
Under RCW9A.76.170(1):
Any person having been released by court order or admitted to bail with
knowledge of the requirement of a subsequent personal appearance before any
court of this state, or of the requirement to report to a correctional facility for
service of sentence, and who fails to appear or who fails to surrender for service
of sentence as required is guilty of bail jumping.
Based on the statutory language, the unit of prosecution for bail jumping could be defined as
either violating the court order releasing the defendant or the defendant's failure to appear on a
specific date. O’Brien, 164 Wash. App. at 929-30.
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In O’Brien, the defendant was released under four court orders, in four different cases,
that all required him to report to the jail on the same date and time. Id. at 927. The defendant
failed to report to jail as ordered, and the State charged him with four counts of bail jumping. Id.
The court observed that “the statute is ambiguous as to whether the legislature intended to punish
the single failure to appear or the violations of multiple court orders.” Id. at 929-30. Applying
the rule of lenity to the specific facts of the case, the court determined that the unit of prosecution
in the case was the defendant’s single failure to report rather than the violation of four separate
court orders. Id. at 930, 932.
The facts here are nearly identical to the operative facts in O’Brien. Ring was released
under court order in four separate cases with a requirement to appear in court on January 28,
2013. He failed to report on January 28, and was charged with four counts of bail jumping under
the four separate cause numbers. Applying the rule of lenity to this case, we resolve the
ambiguity regarding the unit of prosecution for bail jumping in Ring’s favor. Accordingly, we
reverse and dismiss Ring’s three bail jumping convictions appealed in this case.
F. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Ring asserts in his SAG that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his
attorney (1) failed to get police reports admitted into evidence because the police reports were
not complete, and (2) failed to obtain a copy of a CD of evidence from the State. We hold that
we cannot consider these assertions because they rely on matters outside the record.8
8
It is unclear whether these assertions relate to Ring’s forgery convictions, which we affirm, or
to his other convictions, which we reverse on other grounds. However, we will address them.
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The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington Constitution guarantee a criminal defendant’s right to effective assistance of
counsel. State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011). To prevail on such a claim,
the defendant must show that, based on the record, (1) defense counsel’s representation was
deficient, and (2) the deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Id. at 32-33.
Both of Ring’s claims rely on matters outside the record. He first asserts that his attorney
was unprepared and failed to get needed police report admitted into evidence because the reports
were incomplete. Based on an independent review of the record, we have been unable to find
evidence to support this claim. As a result, we cannot consider this claim on direct appeal. See
State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). This claim is more properly
raised in a personal restraint petition. Id.
Similarly, Ring argues that his attorney was ineffective because his attorney was given a
blank compact disc (CD) from the State and failed to obtain the evidence on that CD. There is
one potential reference to this in the record; it suggests that the State provided Ring’s defense
attorney with a blank CD, which purportedly was supposed to include data relating to a
photograph of a FMC tire balancer machine, but was blank. Ring’s defense counsel admitted
that the CD was blank and that he did not have copies of a photograph of the FMC tire balancer
machine.
Aside from this reference, there is no evidence in record regarding what else may have
been on the CD, when Ring’s defense counsel purportedly received the CD, or whether the
information on the CD would have been beneficial to Ring’s case. There also is insufficient
evidence of this claim in the record to review it on appeal. See McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d at 335.
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As a result, we cannot consider this claim on direct appeal.
We hold that Ring’s ineffective assistance of counsel assertions do not support the
reversal of his forgery convictions.
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for resentencing.
MAXA, J.
We concur:
WORSWICK, P.J.
SUTTON, J.
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