State Of Washington, V Jennifer Lynn Markwith

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided October 20, 2014·No. 71967-0·Unpublished

Opinion

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON CO rt*i ^ '

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STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 71967-0-1 9?

Respondent, ) DIVISION ONE -c- q£ O! «™ «C

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JENNIFER L. MARKWITH, ) UNPUBLISHED Aooellant. ) FILED: October 20, 2014

Cox, J. - Jennifer Markwith appeals her judgment and sentence for her convictions of residential burglary, second degree assault, and reckless endangerment. The giving of the court's instruction on reasonable doubt was harmless error. Markwith failed to preserve below the challenge to alleged propensity evidence that she now makes on appeal. Likewise, she failed to preserve below her challenge on appeal to the admission of evidence of uncharged conduct. She fails in her burden to show that trial counsel was ineffective. The record does not show any violation of her Fifth Amendment rights. The convictions for second degree assault and reckless endangerment do not violate double jeopardy under the circumstances of this case. We affirm.

In early 2012, Markwith lived with Yvonne Bell in Shelton, Washington.

The two had been dating for about 10 years. They lived in the loft of a barn that they rented from Bell's friend, Angela Tecpile, and Tecpile's husband. Another tenant, Daniel Irwin, lived in the barn below the loft.

On the night of April 23, Bell went to Tecpile's house to sleep for the night because she and Markwith were having a disagreement. Markwith had accused Bell of sleeping with Tecpile. After a confrontation, Tecpile told Markwith that she was no longer welcome on the property.

The next morning, Markwith went to the house to talk to Bell. Another confrontation broke out between Markwith and Tecpile. The police arrested Tecpile, and released her about an hour later. Tecpile's husband picked Tecpile up and told her that he learned that Markwith had taken her Wii gaming system. Tecpile called 911 and upon returning home, she noticed that other items were missing.

After she finished checking her house, Tecpile, her husband, and Irwin left the house to go to the store. When they returned, they saw Markwith and Bell by the loft. Tecpile's husband positioned his car in such a way so as to block their exit. Tecpile called 911. Tecpile told Markwith to stay put and that the police were on their way.

Markwith got in her car. According to Irwin's testimony at trial, Markwith "stomped on the gas" and "floored it." Markwith drove straight toward the group—Tecpile, Bell, Irwin, and Tecpile's husband. Tecpile jumped out of the way. Markwith drove through a barbed wire fence. A piece of barbed wire and a fence post caught underneath the car. The wire caught the front wheel of Irwin's walker and knocked him over. He sustained minor injuries.

Markwith testified at trial that she ran through the fence to avoid hitting Tecpile's car, Tecpile, and Bell. She testified that it was her only way off of the property.

Based on these events, the State charged Markwith with residential burglary, second degree assault, and reckless endangerment. The case proceeded to a jury trial in late 2012. The jury returned guilty verdicts for each of the three charges.

Markwith appeals.

JURY INSTRUCTION

Markwith argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it used a modified version of the standard jury instruction on reasonable doubt. She contends the instruction relieved the State of its burden of proof. We disagree.

"Instructions must convey to the jury that the State bears the burden of proving every essential element of a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt."1 "Although no specific wording is required, jury instructions must define reasonable doubt and clearly communicate that the State carries the burden of proof."2 It is reversible error to instruct the jury in a manner relieving the State of its burden to prove every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.3 A

1 State v. Bennett, 161 Wn.2d 303, 307, 165 P.3d 1241 (2007).

3 Id.

challenged jury instruction is reviewed de novo, in the context of the instructions as a whole.4 In State v. Bennett, the supreme court instructed trial courts to use the approved Washington Pattern Jury Instruction, WPIC 4.01, to instruct juries on the State's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt each element of the crime.5 Eight months after Bennett, this court, in State v. Castillo, reversed a conviction where the trial court gave a completely nonstandard instruction.6 There, the defendant proposed WPIC 4.01, but the trial court refused to provide it, stating that "the WPIC is goobley-gook [sic] in my mind."7 But erroneous modification of WPIC 4.01 does not automatically constitute reversible error.8 Rather, this type of erroneous jury instruction is subject to a constitutional harmless error analysis.9 Thus, a court may hold the error harmless if it is satisfied "'beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury verdict would

414

5161 Wn.2d 303, 306, 165 P.3d 1241 (2007) (citing 11 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 4.01, at 79 (2d ed. Supp. 2005) (WPIC)).

6 150 Wn. App. 466, 208 P.3d 1201 (2009).

7 jd. at 470 (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted).

8 State v. Lundv, 162 Wn. App. 865, 871-73, 256 P.3d 466 (2011).

9 Id. at 871-72.

have been the same absent the error.'"10 "Even misleading instructions do not require reversal unless the complaining party can show prejudice."11 Here, unlike Castillo, the trial court did not give a completely nonstandard instruction. Rather, it provided an instruction that deviated slightly from WPIC 4.01. This WPIC provides:

[The] [Each] defendant has entered a plea of not guilty. That plea puts in issue every element of [the] [each] crime charged. The [State] [City] [County] is the plaintiff and has the burden of proving each element of [the] [each] crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defendant has no burden of proving that a reasonable doubt exists [as to these elements],

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.

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.][12]

Instruction 3 conformed to WPIC 4.01 except that it lacked the emphasized language above. Instruction 3 stated:

The defendant has entered a plea of not guilty. That plea puts in issue every element of the crime charged. The State of Washington is the plaintiff and has the burden of proving each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

10 la\ at 872 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Bashaw, 169 Wn.2d 133, 147, 234 P.3d 195 (2010)).

11 Id, 12 WPIC 4.01 (emphasis added).

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.

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, after such consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.[131

No one objected to this incomplete instruction and, presumably, no one even noticed the discrepancy during the proceedings.

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