State Of Washington v. Jeffrey L. Brinkley

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
) No. 69851-6-1
Respondent,
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) DIVISION ONE S <-o0
and
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION^
JEFFREY LAFATE BRINKLEY, "'i^S
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Appellant. ) FILED: March 10, 2014 ?;=
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Appelwick, J. — Based on evidence that Brinkley participated in the Jobbery,
kidnapping, and assault of a fellow drug dealer, a jury convicted him of first degree
robbery, second degree assault, and second degree kidnapping. Brinkley argues that
the trial court committed reversible error by instructing the jury on an alternative means
for committing first degree robbery that was not charged in the information.
Alternatively, Brinkley contends that his conviction for assault must be vacated because
it merges with the robbery. While we agree that the jury was incorrectly instructed as to
the robbery, we conclude the instructional error was harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt. However, based on the way the crimes were charged and proved, we conclude
that Brinkley's assault conviction merges into his robbery conviction. Accordingly,
Brinkley's assault conviction must be vacated.
FACTS
On December 1, 2011, Kenny Easley arrived unannounced at the home of Louis
and Susan Munson. Easley's purpose was to collect a debt for drugs previously fronted
to Jeff Brinkley and Ethan Mattox, both of whom were staying at the Munsons' property.
Brinkley and Mattox had discussed the possibility of robbing Easley.
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Chuck Munson had instructed Easley never to come to the house without calling
first. However, after unsuccessfully trying to reach Brinkley, Mattox, and Munson by
telephone, Easley went to the Munsons' house.
Munson, Brinkley, and Mattox were in the basement going through some tools
when Easley arrived. Munson was angry upon hearing that Easley was there and went
up the basement stairs to confront him. Munson and Easley had a heated exchange in
front of the house. Mattox and Brinkley then grabbed Easley and forcibly dragged him
down to the basement.
Once in the basement, Brinkley hit Easley. Then, while Mattox was pointing a
revolver at Easley, they made him strip down to his boxers. Easley said they did this
because "[t]hey wanted [his] jewelry" and because they wanted to find out if he was
wearing a wire. They took Easley's necklace, watch, leather jacket, and wallet. At one
point, Brinkley told Easley he was being "south-sided," or in other words, "disciplined."
After about 20 minutes, Munson came down and told them to stop. When
Munson came downstairs, Brinkley and Mattox made Easley move to a different part of
the basement. Awhile later, as his wife became increasingly unhappy about what was
taking place, Munson pounded on the floor with a broom handle.
Mattox retrieved and opened a safe from Easley's car containing drugs, cash,
and a 9 millimeter handgun. Brinkley took the gun and the two split the other contents
of the safe. They threatened to shoot Easley unless he smoked methamphetamine to
further prove he was not working for law enforcement. At some point, Brinkley
answered Easley's telephone and talked to Neptina Dick, who was waiting for Easley to
deliver cold medicine to her.
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After approximately an hour in the basement, Brinkley, Mattox, and Easley left in
Easley's car. Brinkley drove and Mattox had a gun in his lap. They drove out to the
woods, then decided to get cold medicine and take Easley to Dick's house. Brinkley
and Mattox left Easley there. They gave Easley his cell phone and a small portion of
the drugs they had taken, but retained his money, car, firearm, jewelry, and most of the
drugs. They told Easley they would return his car if he stayed at Dick's house and did
not call his supplier. But, after they left, Easley immediately called his wife to come and
get him. He also called his supplier and his "people."
Later that evening, Easley, his supplier, and several others returned to the
Munsons' residence. Several in the group were armed and wearing bulletproof vests.
The group held the Munsons hostage for several hours while they tried to negotiate with
Brinkley and Mattox to return to the house. Eventually, one member of the armed group
accidentally shot and killed another member of the group and everyone except the
Munsons fled.
When he was detained by police several weeks later, Brinkley volunteered that
he had some information about a homicide on the Tulalip reservation. He eventually
discussed his "hypothetical" involvement in assaulting Easley and robbing him of drugs
and money.
The State charged Brinkley with robbery in the first degree, assault in the second
degree, and kidnapping in the second degree. After a trial, a jury convicted him as
charged.
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DISCUSSION
I. Uncharged Alternative Means
Brinkley claims that his robbery conviction must be reversed, because the jury
was instructed on an uncharged statutory alternative means of committing the crime.
The State responds that Brinkley is barred from raising this argument on appeal
under the doctrine of invited error. The State claims that invited error applies, because
the defense adopted the error when it objected to the "to convict" instruction on a
different basis and failed to take exception to the uncharged alternative means of being
armed with a deadly weapon. However, invited error occurs when the defense
proposes the allegedly erroneous instruction. See, e.g., State v. Bover, 91 Wn.2d 342,
345, 588 P.2d 1151 (1979); State v. Studd. 137 Wn.2d 533, 546-47, 973 P.2d 1049(1999); State v. Henderson. 114 Wn.2d 867, 870, 792 P.2d 514 (1990). In this case,
Brinkley did not propose the improper instruction, he merely failed to object to the
erroneous aspect. "[Fjailing to except to an instruction does not constitute invited error."
State v. Corn. 95 Wn. App. 41, 56, 975 P.2d 520 (1999). Brinkley did not invite the
alleged instructional error.
Defendants must be informed of the charges against them, including the manner
of committing the crime. State v. Bray, 52 Wn. App. 30, 34, 756 P.2d 1332 (1988).
When an offense may be committed by alternative means, it is error to instruct the jury
on a means that was not alleged in the information, regardless of the range of evidence
admitted at trial. State v. Laramie. 141 Wn. App. 332, 342, 169 P.3d 859 (2007); State
v. Chino. 117 Wn. App. 531, 540, 72 P.3d 256 (2003); Bray. 52 Wn. App. at 34. Such
No. 69851-6-1/5
an erroneous instruction is presumed prejudicial unless it affirmatively appears that the
error was harmless. Bray, 52 Wn. App. at 34-35.
Here, it was error to instruct the jury on an uncharged alternative means. The
State charged Brinkley with committing attempted robbery under two statutory
alternative means: by displaying what appeared to be a firearm or other deadly
weapon, or inflicting bodily injury.1 RCW 9A.56.200(1)(a)(ii), (iii). But, the jury was
additionally instructed on the "armed with a deadly weapon" alternative means. RCW
9A.56.200(1)(a)(i).
The State does not dispute that instructional error occurred, but argues that the
error was harmless. Ordinarily, this type of instructional error is prejudicial where "it is
possible that the jury might have convicted the defendant under the uncharged
alternative." State v. Doogan. 82 Wn. App. 185, 189, 917 P2d 155 (1996). And, here,
the State presented evidence from which the jury could have concluded that Brinkley or
his accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon. The State argued in closing that both
participants were armed with deadly weapons. Thus, the jury would have been justified
in believing it could find Brinkley guilty on the basis of the uncharged alternative means.
Nevertheless, because exactly the same evidence supported both one of the charged
1 RCW 9A.56.200 defining first degree robbery provides, in relevant part:
(1) A person is guilty of robbery in the first degree if:
(a) In the commission of a robbery or of immediate flight therefrom,
he or she:
(i) Is armed with a deadly weapon; or
(ii) Displays what appears to be a firearm or other deadly weapon;
or
(iii) Inflicts bodily injury.
No. 69851-6-1/6
means and the uncharged alternative means, we are persuaded that the error was
harmless.
The State could prove that Brinkley or Mattox were armed with a deadly weapon
only by virtue of Easley's testimony that "one or the other" displayed what appeared to
be a gun throughout the course of the robbery. There was no evidence, nor any claim,
that either Brinkley or Mattox was armed with a deadly weapon but did not display it.
Neither of the two firearms were apparently recovered, and the only evidence at trial
regarding the weapons in connection to the events of the robbery consisted of Easley's
descriptions of how they were used.2 The jury also found Brinkley guilty of assault with
a deadly weapon. RCW 9A.36.021(1)(c). The only evidence supporting this charge
was Easley's testimony that Brinkley and Mattox brandished a gun while issuing violent
threats and demands, causing reasonable apprehension or fear. Under the facts in this
particular case, any juror who found that Brinkley or his accomplice was armed with a
deadly weapon necessarily would have found that one or both of them displayed what
appeared to be a deadly weapon—the alternative means that was properly described in
the charging information.
2 Munson said that while he did not observe either Brinkley or Mattox with a gun on the
day of the robbery, Mattox normally had a gun with him, sometimes in a "locked box."
Munson's testimony thus corroborated Easley's account. His testimony was not,
however, sufficient to support Brinkley's conviction under the "armed with a deadly
weapon" prong, because a person is not armed with a weapon unless it is "easily
accessible and readily available for use." State v. Valdobinos, 122 Wn.2d 270, 282, 858
P.2d 199 (1993) (sufficiency of evidence for purposes of enhancement). The testimony
about Mattox's ownership and usual possession of a weapon did not establish the
required nexus between the crime and the deadly weapon. See State v. Barnes. 153
Wn.2d 378, 383, 103 P.3d 1219 (2005) (defining "armed" with respect to enhancement).
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No. 69851-6-1/7
II. Double Jeopardy
Brinkley alternatively contends that his convictions for second degree assault and
first degree robbery violate double jeopardy. Although there are several methods to
determine the existence of a double jeopardy violation, Brinkley argues only that the
merger doctrine applies, and therefore, we focus solely on that analysis.
We review his double jeopardy challenge de novo and may do so for the first
time on appeal. State v. Freeman. 153 Wn.2d 765, 770, 108 P.3d 753 (2005); State v.
Adel. 136 Wn.2d 629, 631-32, 965 P.2d 1072 (1998). Merger is a doctrine of statutory
interpretation used to determine whether the legislature intended to impose multiple
punishments for a single act that violates several statutory provisions. In re Pers.
Restraint of Fletcher. 113 Wn.2d 42, 50-51, 776 P.2d 114 (1989). When the degree of
one offense is raised by conduct separately criminalized by the legislature, we presume
the legislature intended to punish both offenses through a greater sentence for the
greater crime. State v. Vladovic. 99 Wn.2d 413, 419, 662 P.2d 853 (1983).
When an assault elevates a robbery to first degree, "generally the two offenses
are the same for double jeopardy purposes." State v. Kier. 164 Wn.2d 798, 801-02, 194
P.3d 212 (2008). However, there is no per se rule that assault in the second degree
merges into robbery in the first degree. Freeman. 153 Wn.2d at 774. Rather, a case-
by-case approach is required. Id.As explained, Brinkley was charged with first degree robbery under RCW
9A.56.200(1)(a)(ii-iii), which provides that robbery is elevated to the first degree if the
defendant displays what appears to be a firearm or other deadly weapon or inflicts
bodily injury in the commission of the robbery or in immediate flight from the robbery.
No. 69851-6-1/8
Robbery itself requires the taking of property by the use or threatened use of immediate
force, violence, or fear of injury to a person or his property. RCW 9A.56.190. As
instructed, the State had to prove that Brinkley or an accomplice took property from
another, by "use or threatened use of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury."
Brinkley was also convicted of second degree assault under RCW
9A.36.021(1)(c), which provides that a person is guilty of second degree assault if he
"[ajssaults another with a deadly weapon." RCW 9A.36.21(c). Assault involves putting
another in apprehension or fear of harm, regardless of whether the actor intends to
inflict or is incapable of inflicting such harm. Kier. 164 Wn.2d at 806; State v. Elmi. 166
Wn.2d 209, 215, 207 P.3d 439 (2009). To prove that Brinkley committed second
degree assault, the State had to prove that Brinkley or his accomplice assaulted Easley
"with a deadly weapon." RCW 9A.36.021(1)(c).
The State does not dispute that the merger doctrine is triggered here, because
the second degree assault with a deadly weapon elevates the robbery to the first
degree and the display of a firearm or deadly weapon to take property through force or
fear is essential to the elevation. See Kier. 164 Wn.2d at 806. As in Kier. both charges
required the State to prove that Brinkley's conduct or that of his accomplice created a
reasonable apprehension or fear of harm. The display of a firearm or deadly weapon
was the means ofcreating the necessary apprehension or fear.3
3 The State does not argue against merger based on the fact that Brinkley was
also charged with first degree robbery based on the infliction of bodily injury alternative
means. RCW 9A.56.200(1 )(a)(iii). This is presumably because the jury was not
required to agree on an alternative means, and the prosecutor argued that it was
Easley's reasonable fear of being shot that made him turn over his property. Thus, as
in Kier. there is ambiguity in the jury's verdict which is resolved in Brinkley's favor under
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No. 69851-6-1/9
Instead, the State urges us to apply an exception to the merger doctrine. Under
this exception, "offenses may in fact be separate when there is a separate injury to 'the
person or property of the victim or others, which is separate and distinct from and not
merely incidental to the crime of which it forms an element.'" Freeman. 153 Wn.2d at
778-79 (quoting State v. Frohs. 83 Wn. App. 803, 807, 924 P.2d 384 (1996)). There is
no merger where the robbery and assault each had an independent purpose and effect,
or a separate assault occurs during the course of a robbery. Freeman. 153 Wn.2d at
778; Kier. 164 Wn.2d at 814. In Vladovic. for example, the defendant's convictions did
not merge because the kidnappings and robbery involved different victims and created
separate and distinct injuries. Vladovic. 99 Wn.2d at 421-22.
The State argues that each crime had a distinct purpose and effect and should
therefore be punished separately. The State draws temporal distinctions from the
testimony and argues that the crime began as an assault on Easley and only later
evolved into a robbery. The State cites Munson's testimony that shortly before the three
left in Easley's car, Mattox came upstairs and said he was taking a "vote" on whether to
rob Easley. The State also focuses on Easley's testimony that Brinkley and Mattox
expressed several different motivations for their actions.
But, the evidence does not lend itself to a determination of distinct points when
the robbery began and ended. According to the testimony, Brinkley and Mattox took
property from Easley continuously throughout the time they held him in the basement
the rule of lenity, requiring merger. See Kier. 164 Wn.2d at 813-14 (rule of lenity
applied, because it was not clear whether the jury determined that the same person was
the victim of both the robbery and the assault).
No. 69851-6-1/10
until they finally left him at Dick's house. Easley testified that after he was dragged to
the basement and punched, Brinkley and Mattox took jewelry and other property from
his person. Then they took money from his wallet and looked through his things. After
that, they took his keys, retrieved his safe, and took the items from the safe. Finally,
they took his car. Although they made various other demands on him in the interim and
gave several reasons for what they were doing, we are not persuaded by the evidence
in the record that the assault and the robbery had an independent purpose or effect.
III. Statement Of Additional Grounds
In his pro se statement of additional grounds, Brinkley raises claims of juror
misconduct and ineffective assistance of trial counsel related to a juror, who, after he
was selected for the jury panel, volunteered that he had had some "contact" with
Brinkley in the context of his work as a Corrections Department employee. Brinkley
contends that the juror's failure to disclose his personal knowledge constitutes an
irregularity in the proceedings that warrants a new trial. He also argues that his counsel
should have requested further questioning of the juror. But, as the record indicates, the
fact that the juror did not initially indicate that he knew Brinkley was not necessarily
inconsistent with his later acknowledgement of some unspecified contact through his
work.4 Moreover, when the issue was initially brought up, the State requested that the
juror be brought in for questioning. However, the court indicated that neither party had
articulated a sufficient reason to justify further questioning. Brinkley fails to indentify an
irregularity in the proceedings, or explain how he was prejudiced by his counsel's
4 The juror initially indicated that he knew both the prosecutor and defense
counsel.
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alleged deficiency. See Strickland v. Washington. 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Thomas. 109 Wn.2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816(1987).
Brinkley raises additional claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, but because
these arguments either involve matters outside of the trial court record or do not
adequately inform the court of the precise nature of the alleged errors, they do not merit
further review. See State v. McFarland. 127 Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995);
State v. Alvarado. 164 Wn.2d 556, 569, 192 P.3d 345 (2008).
Finally, Brinkley claims that the evidence that the crime eventually culminated in
a murder was unfairly prejudicial and should not have been admitted. It does not
appear that either party moved to exclude this evidence. Nor is it apparent that the
evidence was necessarily prejudicial to him. Nevertheless, even if he had raised this
issue below, it would have been within the discretion of the trial court to admit the res
gestae evidence to complete the story of the crime. See State v. Grier. 168 Wn. App.
635, 644, 278 P.3d 225 (2012).
Because Brinkley's assault conviction merges into the robbery conviction, we
remand with instructions to vacate the assault conviction and for resentencing. We
otherwise affirm the judgment and sentence.
WE CONCUR:
thxj
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