State v. Stevens

143 P.3d 817, 158 Wash. 2d 304
Washington Supreme Court·Decided October 5, 2006·No. No. 77112-0·Published·Cited by 92 cases

Opinions

[306] fl

C. Johnson, J.

This case involves the issue of whether a voluntary intoxication instruction is appropriate where a defendant is charged with second degree child molestation. We are also asked whether fourth degree assault can be a lesser included offense of second degree child molestation. The trial court denied Randall Jerome Stevens’ request for an instruction on voluntary intoxication and fourth degree assault. The Court of Appeals reversed Stevens’ conviction, concluding that although intent is not a necessary element of second degree child molestation, intent is included in the definition of one of the necessary elements and must be proved by the State. Because intoxication evidence was presented at trial to negate the intent requirement, the Court of Appeals concluded the trial court erred in failing to give both instructions. We affirm the Court of Appeals.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 While some inconsistencies exist, the relevant testimony establishes the following events occurred in early July 2003. Stevens testified he consumed two 40-ounce bottles of beer and two shots of whiskey before encountering two girls, 13-year-old M.G. and 12-year-old H.G., outside of a shopping area in Port Townsend. It is unclear who initiated conversation, but the three discussed whether Stevens was in the band Metallica. Stevens testified the girls told him he looked like a guy from Metallica; the girls testified that Stevens told them he was in Metallica. The girls testified Stevens offered to get them something to smoke and that he appeared to be drunk. This first encounter was brief, and eventually Stevens left to catch a bus, and the girls left to wait for H.G.’s father near the ferry terminal.

[307] ¶3 About an hour later, Stevens encountered the same girls near the ferry terminal. At some point during this encounter, the girls asked if they could take pictures with Stevens. Several pictures were taken and admitted into evidence. The first picture showed Stevens sitting next to a smiling H.G. with his hand on her breast. H.G. testified that she was smiling for the camera and that Stevens grabbed her breast at the exact moment the picture was taken and that is why she appears to be smiling while Stevens is grabbing her breast. H.G. testified the touch made her feel “very violated” and that at some point after the picture was taken, Stevens said, “Hey remember when I grabbed your boob?” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 72. M.G., who took the picture, did not notice Stevens touching H.G. The girls then took a picture of Stevens by himself, and then H.G. took a picture of Stevens and M.G. together. Stevens testified the first picture was “a sick joke” and that he wanted it to appear like he was grabbing H.G.’s breast but he did not intend to actually grab it. RP at 127. The grabbing of the breast was the basis for the conviction of second degree child molestation against Stevens.

¶4 Before starting trial, the State moved to exclude evidence of Stevens’ intoxication, relying on the argument that evidence of intoxication was irrelevant because no intent requirement exists for the crime of child molestation. Stevens argued that because the State had to prove “sexual contact” as an element of child molestation, and “sexual contact” is defined by RCW 9A.44.010(2) as “any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party or a third party,” the State had to prove Stevens touched H.G. for the purpose of sexual gratification. The trial court declined to rule on the motion until after the trial had begun, and Stevens was allowed to present evidence of his intoxication. The trial court ultimately declined to give a voluntary intoxication instruction. The trial court likewise declined to instruct the jury on fourth degree assault as a lesser included offense.

[308] ¶5 The jury found Stevens guilty of one count of second degree child molestation for the touch involving H.G. Stevens timely filed an appeal to the Court of Appeals, arguing the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on the defense of voluntary intoxication and by refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of assault in the fourth degree. The Court of Appeals, noting our analysis in State v. Lorenz, 152 Wn.2d 22, 34-35, 93 P.3d 133 (2004) (holding that sexual gratification is a defining phrase of the element of sexual contact, not an element itself that must be included in to-convict instructions), held the State had to prove Stevens acted with intent. State v. Stevens, 127 Wn. App. 269, 274, 110 P.3d 1179 (2005). The Court of Appeals reasoned that because the State had to prove intent, it was error for the trial court to exclude the intoxication instruction and to exclude fourth degree assault as a lesser included offense. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded. We granted the State’s petition for review. State v. Stevens, noted at 155 Wn.2d 1024 (2005).

ANALYSIS

Jury Instructions

¶6 Instructions are adequate if they allow a party to argue its theory of the case and do not mislead the jury or misstate the law. State v. Barnes, 153 Wn.2d 378, 382, 103 P.3d 1219 (2005). Whether the jury instructions state the applicable law is a question of law which we review de novo. State v. Linehan, 147 Wn.2d 638, 643, 56 P.3d 542 (2002). The instruction proposed by Stevens read, “no act committed by a person while in a state of voluntary intoxication is less criminal by reason of that condition. However, evidence of intoxication may be considered in determining whether the defendant acted with intent and/or knowledge.” Clerk’s Papers at 5. The proposed instruction does not misstate the law under RCW 9A.16.090.1

[309] ¶7 Child molestation in the second degree requires a person to have, or to knowingly cause another person under the age of 18 to have, sexual contact with a person who is between the ages of 12 and 14. RCW 9A.44.086. “Sexual contact” is statutorily defined as “any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party or a third party.” RCW 9A.44.010(2). Stevens argues that the legislature, through its definition of sexual contact, incorporated the “purpose of sexual gratification” as an element of child molestation.

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State v. Stevens, 143 P.3d 817, 158 Wash. 2d 304 (Wash. 2006).

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