FILED JANUARY 22, 2019 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 35515-2-III ) Respondent, ) ) v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) ANDREW THOMAS DEWEY, ) ) Appellant. )
LAWRENCE-BERREY, C.J. — A jury found Andrew Dewey guilty of second degree
burglary, violation of a protection order, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Mr.
Dewey appeals his convictions for second degree burglary and violation of a protection
order. We affirm the first but reverse the second.
FACTS
The State initially charged Mr. Dewey with residential burglary, violation of a
protection order, obstructing law enforcement, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The
information alleged that Mr. Dewey violated the protection order by contacting his wife,
Cyndee Dewey, the protected person. No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
On the first day of trial, the State filed an amended information charging Mr.
Dewey with second degree burglary, second degree theft, second degree possession of
stolen property, violation of a protection order, obstructing law enforcement, and
possession of a stolen vehicle. The amended information continued to allege that Mr.
Dewey violated the protection order by contacting his wife, Cyndee Dewey, the protected
person.
The State called Ms. Dewey as its first witness. She testified she and Mr. Dewey
had been married for 18 years but were in the process of divorcing. During the divorce,
she requested a protection order, and she and Mr. Dewey were present at the hearing. At
the hearing, both she and Mr. Dewey discussed their residential property and another
property located at 1560 Twin Lakes Road.
Ms. Dewey testified that the Twin Lakes property had an outbuilding with a
bathroom inside. She explained there were items of personal property inside the building
that belonged to both her and Mr. Dewey. She testified she thought Mr. Dewey
sometimes used the outbuilding as a residence. At the hearing for a protection order, Mr.
Dewey expressed a desire to obtain some of his personal property at the Twin Lakes
property. The judge told Mr. Dewey that he could contact the sheriff’s department so a
deputy could do a standby to assist him in recovering his personal property.
2 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
Ms. Dewey testified that the court issued a protection order that prevented Mr.
Dewey from contacting her or going onto either of their properties. Mr. Dewey signed
the order. Deputy Dan Kivi later personally served the order on Mr. Dewey.
Ms. Dewey testified that she later received a call from Deputy Kivi about a blue
truck loaded with items at the Twin Lakes property. She learned Mr. Dewey was using
the truck, and the truck was impounded. She went to the sheriff’s office and identified
items that were in the blue truck. Ms. Dewey testified she put the items into three
categories: (1) items that belonged to Mr. Dewey, (2) items that were community
property, and, (3) items that belonged to her. Some of the items that belonged to Ms.
Dewey included her son’s football, components of her cotton candy machine, which she
used as a side business, and pictures of her children from a previous relationship. All of
these items had been stored inside the Twin Lakes outbuilding.
Deputy Kivi also testified. Deputy Kivi testified he was doing a security check in
the area of the Twin Lakes property and saw a blue pickup truck that was backed up to
the door of the outbuilding. Deputy Kivi thought this was suspicious because he knew,
from previously serving the protection order, that Mr. Dewey was not supposed to be
there. Deputy Kivi testified there were a lot of items stacked in the truck’s bed and cab.
Deputy Kivi called for backup. He also called Ms. Dewey to confirm that nobody was
3 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
supposed to be there and nobody had permission to remove belongings. Other deputies
arrived and found a way into the building. Nobody was inside. The deputies searched the
surrounding area and eventually found Mr. Dewey laying in the brush. They arrested Mr.
Dewey and advised him of his constitutional rights. Mr. Dewey stated that the Twin
Lakes property was not included in the protection order and that he lived there.
Mr. Dewey then presented his defense. Mr. Dewey testified he was taking all of
the items that were in the blue truck back to where he currently was living. He also
testified he took the items belonging to Ms. Dewey to exchange them later during a civil
standby. On cross-examination, Mr. Dewey acknowledged he sometimes used the Twin
Lakes property as a residence and admitted the property is subject to the protection order.
After Mr. Dewey rested, he moved to dismiss the violation of protection order
charge. Mr. Dewey argued that the amended information alleged he violated the
protection order by contacting Ms. Dewey, and there was no evidence that he contacted
her. The State then moved to amend the information to allege that Mr. Dewey violated
the protection order by being at the Twin Lakes property. The trial court granted the
State’s motion to amend.
4 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
The jury returned a verdict finding Mr. Dewey guilty of second degree burglary,
violation of the protection order, and obstructing law enforcement. The jury found Mr.
Dewey not guilty of second degree theft, second degree possession of stolen property, and
possession of a stolen vehicle.
Mr. Dewey appeals.
ANALYSIS
A. LATE AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION
Mr. Dewey argues the trial court erred when it allowed the State to amend the
information after all the evidence was presented.
Article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution provides: “In criminal
prosecutions the accused shall have the right . . . to demand the nature and cause of the
accusation against him.” Simply put, “a defendant has the right to be informed of the
charges against him and to be tried only for offenses charged.” State v. Peterson, 133
Wn.2d 885, 889, 948 P.2d 381 (1997). A “midtrial amendment of an information is
‘reversible error per se even without a defense showing of prejudice.’” Id. (quoting State
v. Markle, 118 Wn.2d 424, 437, 823 P.2d 1101 (1992)); accord State v. Pelkey, 109
Wn.2d 484, 491, 745 P.2d 854 (1987). Although CrR 2.1(d) allows amendment “any
time before verdict or finding if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced,”
5 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
this works within the confines of article I, section 22. Pelkey, 109 Wn.2d at 490. “A
criminal charge may not be amended after the State has rested its case in chief unless the
amendment is to a lesser degree of the same charge or a lesser included offense.” Id. at
491. “Anything else is a violation of the defendant’s article I, section 22 right to demand
the nature and cause of the accusation against him or her.” Id. (emphasis added).
The State argues that a technical amendment, including amending to an alternative
means of committing a crime, is allowed and is only reversible if the defendant can show
prejudice. See Resp’t’s Br.
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FILED JANUARY 22, 2019 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 35515-2-III ) Respondent, ) ) v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) ANDREW THOMAS DEWEY, ) ) Appellant. )
LAWRENCE-BERREY, C.J. — A jury found Andrew Dewey guilty of second degree
burglary, violation of a protection order, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Mr.
Dewey appeals his convictions for second degree burglary and violation of a protection
order. We affirm the first but reverse the second.
FACTS
The State initially charged Mr. Dewey with residential burglary, violation of a
protection order, obstructing law enforcement, and possession of a stolen vehicle. The
information alleged that Mr. Dewey violated the protection order by contacting his wife,
Cyndee Dewey, the protected person. No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
On the first day of trial, the State filed an amended information charging Mr.
Dewey with second degree burglary, second degree theft, second degree possession of
stolen property, violation of a protection order, obstructing law enforcement, and
possession of a stolen vehicle. The amended information continued to allege that Mr.
Dewey violated the protection order by contacting his wife, Cyndee Dewey, the protected
person.
The State called Ms. Dewey as its first witness. She testified she and Mr. Dewey
had been married for 18 years but were in the process of divorcing. During the divorce,
she requested a protection order, and she and Mr. Dewey were present at the hearing. At
the hearing, both she and Mr. Dewey discussed their residential property and another
property located at 1560 Twin Lakes Road.
Ms. Dewey testified that the Twin Lakes property had an outbuilding with a
bathroom inside. She explained there were items of personal property inside the building
that belonged to both her and Mr. Dewey. She testified she thought Mr. Dewey
sometimes used the outbuilding as a residence. At the hearing for a protection order, Mr.
Dewey expressed a desire to obtain some of his personal property at the Twin Lakes
property. The judge told Mr. Dewey that he could contact the sheriff’s department so a
deputy could do a standby to assist him in recovering his personal property.
2 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
Ms. Dewey testified that the court issued a protection order that prevented Mr.
Dewey from contacting her or going onto either of their properties. Mr. Dewey signed
the order. Deputy Dan Kivi later personally served the order on Mr. Dewey.
Ms. Dewey testified that she later received a call from Deputy Kivi about a blue
truck loaded with items at the Twin Lakes property. She learned Mr. Dewey was using
the truck, and the truck was impounded. She went to the sheriff’s office and identified
items that were in the blue truck. Ms. Dewey testified she put the items into three
categories: (1) items that belonged to Mr. Dewey, (2) items that were community
property, and, (3) items that belonged to her. Some of the items that belonged to Ms.
Dewey included her son’s football, components of her cotton candy machine, which she
used as a side business, and pictures of her children from a previous relationship. All of
these items had been stored inside the Twin Lakes outbuilding.
Deputy Kivi also testified. Deputy Kivi testified he was doing a security check in
the area of the Twin Lakes property and saw a blue pickup truck that was backed up to
the door of the outbuilding. Deputy Kivi thought this was suspicious because he knew,
from previously serving the protection order, that Mr. Dewey was not supposed to be
there. Deputy Kivi testified there were a lot of items stacked in the truck’s bed and cab.
Deputy Kivi called for backup. He also called Ms. Dewey to confirm that nobody was
3 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
supposed to be there and nobody had permission to remove belongings. Other deputies
arrived and found a way into the building. Nobody was inside. The deputies searched the
surrounding area and eventually found Mr. Dewey laying in the brush. They arrested Mr.
Dewey and advised him of his constitutional rights. Mr. Dewey stated that the Twin
Lakes property was not included in the protection order and that he lived there.
Mr. Dewey then presented his defense. Mr. Dewey testified he was taking all of
the items that were in the blue truck back to where he currently was living. He also
testified he took the items belonging to Ms. Dewey to exchange them later during a civil
standby. On cross-examination, Mr. Dewey acknowledged he sometimes used the Twin
Lakes property as a residence and admitted the property is subject to the protection order.
After Mr. Dewey rested, he moved to dismiss the violation of protection order
charge. Mr. Dewey argued that the amended information alleged he violated the
protection order by contacting Ms. Dewey, and there was no evidence that he contacted
her. The State then moved to amend the information to allege that Mr. Dewey violated
the protection order by being at the Twin Lakes property. The trial court granted the
State’s motion to amend.
4 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
The jury returned a verdict finding Mr. Dewey guilty of second degree burglary,
violation of the protection order, and obstructing law enforcement. The jury found Mr.
Dewey not guilty of second degree theft, second degree possession of stolen property, and
possession of a stolen vehicle.
Mr. Dewey appeals.
ANALYSIS
A. LATE AMENDMENT TO THE INFORMATION
Mr. Dewey argues the trial court erred when it allowed the State to amend the
information after all the evidence was presented.
Article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution provides: “In criminal
prosecutions the accused shall have the right . . . to demand the nature and cause of the
accusation against him.” Simply put, “a defendant has the right to be informed of the
charges against him and to be tried only for offenses charged.” State v. Peterson, 133
Wn.2d 885, 889, 948 P.2d 381 (1997). A “midtrial amendment of an information is
‘reversible error per se even without a defense showing of prejudice.’” Id. (quoting State
v. Markle, 118 Wn.2d 424, 437, 823 P.2d 1101 (1992)); accord State v. Pelkey, 109
Wn.2d 484, 491, 745 P.2d 854 (1987). Although CrR 2.1(d) allows amendment “any
time before verdict or finding if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced,”
5 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
this works within the confines of article I, section 22. Pelkey, 109 Wn.2d at 490. “A
criminal charge may not be amended after the State has rested its case in chief unless the
amendment is to a lesser degree of the same charge or a lesser included offense.” Id. at
491. “Anything else is a violation of the defendant’s article I, section 22 right to demand
the nature and cause of the accusation against him or her.” Id. (emphasis added).
The State argues that a technical amendment, including amending to an alternative
means of committing a crime, is allowed and is only reversible if the defendant can show
prejudice. See Resp’t’s Br. at 13-15. The three authorities cited by the State to support
its argument are distinguishable or otherwise not controlling. State v. Gosser, 33 Wn.
App. 428, 434-35, 656 P.2d 514 (1982) (amendment occurred before State rested); State
v. Allyn, 40 Wn. App. 27, 35, 696 P.2d 45 (1985) (overruled sub silentio by Pelkey); State
v. Schaffer, 120 Wn.2d 616, 619-20, 845 P.2d 281 (1993) (amendment occurred before
State rested its case).
Pelkey is clear. Once the State has rested its case, amendment of the charging
document is unconstitutional unless it is an amendment to a lesser included offense or a
lesser degree of the same charge. Pelkey, 109 Wn.2d at 491. In two cases, this court has
reversed late amendments to an alternative means of committing the charged crime.
6 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
In State v. Griffith, 129 Wn. App. 482, 486, 120 P.3d 610 (2005), the defendant
was originally charged with knowingly dealing in child pornography. After the defendant
rested his case, the State moved the court to amend the information to include an
alternative means of committing the offense—possession with intent to deal in child
pornography. Id. at 490. The court allowed it. Id. On appeal, this court reversed the
conviction for dealing in child pornography, adhering to Pelkey’s bright line rule. Id. at
491. After an analysis, this court concluded that possession under RCW 9.68A.050(2) is
not a lesser included offense of RCW 9.68A.050(1) because one can commit the
dissemination crime (subsection 1) without committing the possession crime (subsection
2). Id. Thus, the amendment was not to a lesser included offense or a lesser degree of the
same crime.
In State v. Laramie, 141 Wn. App. 332, 341, 169 P.3d 859 (2007), the defendant
was charged with assault with a deadly weapon in violation of RCW 9A.36.021(1)(a).
However, when the court instructed the jury on assault, the court gave an instruction that
included an alternative means of committing second degree assault—recklessly inflicting
substantial bodily harm. Id. The defendant did not object, but the State brought the
discrepancy to the court’s attention. Id. Instead of reinstructing the jury, the court
allowed the State to amend the information. Id. at 342. On appeal, this court once again
7 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
adhered to Pelkey’s bright line rule and recognized Griffith’s holding that an amendment
to an alternative means is not a lesser included offense. Id. at 343-44.1
Here, the second amended information stated an alternative means of committing
violation of a protection order. The original information charged Mr. Dewey with
violation of a protection order by contacting the protected person, Cyndee Dewey.
Contacting a protected person violates RCW 26.50.110(1)(a)(i). After both sides rested,
the State amended the charge to violation of a protection order that excluded Mr. Dewey
from a residence. Going onto residential property contrary to a protection order violates
RCW 26.50.110(1)(a)(ii).
We conclude the trial court erred by allowing the State to amend the information to
assert an alternative means of committing violation of a protection order. The
amendment was prohibited by Pelkey, and Mr. Dewey is not required to show that the
amendment prejudiced him.
1 Courts have also reversed amendments for more minor, technical reasons. See, e.g., State v. Vangerpen, 125 Wn.2d 782, 791, 888 P.2d 1177 (1995) (finding an amendment to the information after both sides had rested to include the statutory word “premeditation” was reversible error); State v. Hull, 83 Wn. App. 786, 802, 924 P.2d 375 (1996) (finding an amendment to the information after the State had rested its case to include the word “required” was per se reversible error because the omission of the word “required” in the first information resulted in no viable charge at all).
8 No. 35515-2-III State v. Dewey
B. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Mr. Dewey argues that a rational jury could not have found him guilty of second
degree burglary because the State presented insufficient evidence.
A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence admits the truth of all of the State’s
evidence. State v. Cardenas-Flores, 189 Wn.2d 243, 265, 401 P.3d 19 (2017).
“Evidence is sufficient to support a guilty verdict if any rational trier of fact, viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, could find the elements of the charged
crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. “[A]ll reasonable inferences from the evidence
must be drawn in favor of the State and interpreted most strongly against” Mr. Dewey.
State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
To prove second degree burglary, the State was required to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that Mr. Dewey entered the Twin Lakes outbuilding or remained
unlawfully, with the intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein.
RCW 9A.52.030(1). Burglary does not require an intent to commit a specific crime;
rather, the intent is simply the intent to commit any crime against a person or property.
State v. Bergeron, 105 Wn.2d 1, 4, 711 P.2d 1000 (1985).
Here, the State proved that Mr. Dewey entered the Twin Lakes outbuilding and
took items that belonged only to Ms. Dewey. Viewing the facts most favorably to the
9 No. 35515-2-111 State v. Dewey
State, a reasonable trier of fact could find that Mr. Dewey entered the outbuilding with
the intent to commit theft, i.e., deprive Ms. Dewey of property that belonged to her.
Mr. Dewey notes that the jury found him not guilty of the crimes of second degree
theft and second degree possession of stolen property. The not guilty verdicts on these
offenses and the guilty verdict on second degree burglary are inconsistent. But the
inconsistency of a jury's verdict does not support the dismissal of a conviction otherwise
supported by substantial evidence. State v. Ng, 110 Wn.2d 32, 48, 750 P.2d 632 ( 1988).
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Lawrence-Berrey, C.J.
WE CONCUR:
Fearing, J.
I