State Of Washington, V Anthony Joshua Tolman

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJanuary 12, 2016
Docket46632-5
StatusUnpublished

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Bluebook
State Of Washington, V Anthony Joshua Tolman, (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

January 12, 2016

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 46632-5-II

Respondent,

v.

ANTHONY J. TOLMAN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

SUTTON, J. — Anthony Joshua Tolman appeals his convictions for attempting to elude a

pursuing police vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle. Tolman argues that (1) there was

insufficient evidence to convict him of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and the

aggravating factor, endangerment by eluding a police vehicle, because there was no evidence that

he drove in a reckless manner or endangered any other person, (2) the amended information failed

to allege all essential elements and necessary facts for both charges, (3) the trial court’s reasonable

doubt instruction shifted the burden of proof and was improper, and (4) the trial court erred when

it failed to consider whether he had the present or future ability to pay the imposed legal financial

obligations (LFOs) at sentencing.

We hold that (1) there was sufficient evidence to convict Tolman of attempting to elude a

pursuing police vehicle and the aggravating factor, endangerment by eluding a pursuing police

vehicle, (2) the amended information included the essential elements and necessary facts for Count

I, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, but that the amended information was insufficient

for Count II, possession of a stolen vehicle, because it did not mention the essential element of No. 46632-5-II

“withhold or appropriate,” and (3) the trial court’s reasonable doubt instruction was proper.

Further, we decline to review Tolman’s imposed LFOs because he failed to object to them at

sentencing. Accordingly, we affirm Tolman’s conviction for Count I, attempting to elude a

pursuing police vehicle, reverse his conviction for Count II, possession of a stolen vehicle, and

remand to the trial court for further proceedings.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Around 2:00 a.m. on June 17, 2014, after receiving a report of a stolen vehicle out of King

County, Pierce County Deputy Scott Wheeler, in his marked police vehicle, initiated a traffic stop

of a car matching the description and license plate number of the stolen vehicle. Wheeler activated

the emergency lights on his marked police vehicle, signaling the car to pull over. The car

accelerated, and Wheeler pursued.

During the pursuit, the car reached and maintained speeds of 50 mph or more, including in

a 35 mph zone, ran a stop sign, and sped through a grocery store parking lot, hitting a cart rack and

popping a tire before returning to the main road. The car, with its flat tire sparking, swerved into

the center and oncoming lanes.

As the pursuit approached an intersection, Wheeler saw a car stopped at the light in the left

turn lane, preparing to turn. The car Wheeler was pursuing initially started to go around the left

side of the stopped car, into the oncoming traffic lane, but it swerved back into the right lane of

travel. Because the car he was pursuing was swerving into oncoming traffic lanes, Wheeler was

concerned about it colliding with the car in the turn lane and other vehicles. The pursuit ended

when the car stopped in a car dealership’s parking lot, and its driver, who Wheeler identified as

Anthony Tolman, fled on foot.

2 No. 46632-5-II

Police arrested Tolman the next day and charged him with attempting to elude a pursuing

police vehicle (Count I), possession of a stolen vehicle (Count II), driving with a suspended license,

and possession of stolen property (Count III).1 For Count I, attempting to elude a pursuing police

vehicle, the State also charged an aggravating factor, endangerment by eluding a police vehicle,

alleging that Tolman,

[O]n or about the 17th day of June, 2014, did unlawfully, feloniously, and willfully fail or refuse to immediately bring his vehicle to a stop and drive his vehicle in a reckless manner while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring his vehicle to a stop by a uniformed police officer in a vehicle equipped with lights and sirens, contrary to RCW 46.61.024(1) . . . [and he] endangered one or more persons other than [himself] or the pursuing law enforcement officer, contrary to 9.94A.834.

Clerk’s papers (CP) at 8. For Count II, possession of a stolen vehicle, the State alleged that

Tolman,

[O]n or about the 17th day of June, 2014, did unlawfully and feloniously knowingly possess a stolen motor vehicle, knowing that it had been stolen, contrary to RCW 9A.56.068 and 9A.56.140.

CP at 9.

After closing arguments on the third day of trial, the trial court instructed the jury. Jury

instruction no. 2 read,

The defendant has entered a plea of not guilty. That plea puts in issue every element of each crime charged. The State is the plaintiff and has the burden of proving each element of each crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists. A defendant is presumed innocent. This presumption continues throughout the entire trial unless during your deliberations you find it has been overcome by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

1 Tolman only appeals his convictions for Count I, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, and Count II, possession of a stolen vehicle.

3 No. 46632-5-II

A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence. If, from such consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt. CP at 16. Tolman did not object to this instruction. The jury convicted Tolman on all counts,

including the aggravating factor, endangerment by eluding a police vehicle. At sentencing, the

trial court imposed $1,300 in LFOs as a condition of Tolman’s sentence.2 Tolman did not raise

any objection to the imposition of the LFOs at sentencing. Tolman appeals his convictions and

sentence.

ANALYSIS

I. SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Tolman argues that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of attempting to elude a

pursuing police vehicle because there was no evidence that he was driving in a reckless manner.

Tolman also argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the aggravating factor that he

endangered one or more persons because the State failed to prove that there were any bystanders

present. We disagree.

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review sufficiency of evidence claims for whether, when viewing the evidence in the

light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements

of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102, 105, 330 P.3d

182 (2014). In a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the defendant admits the truth of the

2 The trial court imposed the following mandatory LFOs: (1) $500 for the crime victim assessment, (2) $100 for the DNA database fee, and (3) $200 for the criminal filing fee.

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