State v. Bales

410 P.3d 1088, 289 Or. App. 470
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedDecember 28, 2017
DocketA160413
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 410 P.3d 1088 (State v. Bales) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bales, 410 P.3d 1088, 289 Or. App. 470 (Or. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

DeVORE, P. J.

*1089*472Defendant appeals a judgment of conviction for third-degree assault of an emergency medical services provider, ORS 163.165(1)(g) (Count 1),1 and second-degree criminal mischief, ORS 164.354(1)(b) (Count 2).2 Among other things, defendant contends that the trial court should have entered a judgment of acquittal on Count 1 because the victim, an emergency room nurse, was not an "emergency medical services provider" within the meaning of ORS 163.165 (1)(g) and ORS 682.025(4). Defendant further contends that the trial court erred by excluding testimony pertaining to a possible mental disease or defect, which could be relevant under ORS 161.300 to the mens rea on each conviction.3 On Count 1, we agree with defendant that the trial court should have granted the motion for a judgment of acquittal on the charge of third-degree assault. On Count 2, we agree with defendant that the trial court erred in excluding the testimony on the basis of improper notice under ORS 161.309(2). Accordingly, we reverse and remand as to Count 1 and Count 2 and otherwise affirm.4

The pertinent facts are undisputed. Defendant was a patient in a hospital emergency room because he had a dislocated arm. He did not leave when he was discharged. When the victim, an emergency room nurse, asked defendant to leave, he struck her in the head and caused injury. Afterward, defendant damaged an oxygen regulator in a *473nearby patient room. The state charged defendant with third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mischief. A jury found defendant guilty of third-degree assault and second-degree mischief, ORS 164.354(1)(b) (a lesser included offense). We discuss, in turn, defendant's challenges to the convictions.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER

At trial, defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal, arguing that the victim, an emergency room nurse, was not an "emergency medical services provider" (herein at times, "EMS provider") within the meaning of ORS 163.165(1)(g) and ORS 685.025(4)-a term added to the crime of third-degree assault in 1995. Or. Laws 1995, ch. 738, § 1. On appeal, defendant renews his argument. Because registered nurses like the victim are licensed under ORS chapter 678, defendant asserts that the regulation and licensure of EMS providers under ORS chapter 682 is inapplicable to them. Defendant *1090further contends that the victim did not fit the definition of an EMS provider because she did not have statutorily referenced training in "prehospital care." The state disagrees and contends that, when the legislature amended the definition in 2011, the legislature intended to expand the definition's scope beyond emergency medical technicians and paramedics to include emergency room nurses. Because the denial of a motion for a judgment of acquittal "centers on the meaning of the statute defining the offense," we review the interpretation of the statute for legal error. State v. Hunt , 270 Or.App. 206, 210, 346 P.3d 1285 (2015) (internal quotation marks omitted).

The parties' arguments raise the question whether the legislature intended the term "emergency medical services provider" to apply to an emergency room nurse. In construing the meaning of a statute, we consider its text, context, and legislative history to discern legislative intent. State v. Gaines , 346 Or. 160, 171-72, 206 P.3d 1042 (2009).

As relevant here, ORS 163.165(1)(g) provides that a person commits third-degree assault if the person

"[i]ntentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to an emergency medical services provider, as defined *474in ORS 682.025, while the emergency medical services provider is performing official duties."

An "emergency medical services provider" means

"a person who has received formal training in prehospital and emergency care, and is licensed to attend any person who is ill or injured or who has a disability. Police officers, firefighters, funeral home employees and other persons serving in a dual capacity one of which meets the definition of 'emergency medical services provider' are 'emergency medical services providers' within the meaning of this chapter."

ORS 682.025(4).5 We start with the text and context of the statute defining "emergency medical services provider."

At first blush, the text of ORS 682.025(4) appears broad enough to encompass an emergency room nurse, given its inclusion of "[p]olice officers, firefighters, funeral home employees and other persons serving in a dual capacity one of which meets the definition of 'emergency medical services provider.' " However, the context of the provision reveals that EMS providers and emergency room nurses are trained differently and meet different licensure requirements. See State v. Meek , 266 Or.App. 550, 556, 338 P.3d 767

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Related

State v. Cinencio-Gonzalez
566 P.3d 1157 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 2025)
State v. Bales
504 P.3d 10 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 2022)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
410 P.3d 1088, 289 Or. App. 470, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bales-orctapp-2017.