State v. Thomas

352 N.W.2d 526, 1984 Minn. App. LEXIS 3393
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedAugust 7, 1984
DocketCX-84-225
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 352 N.W.2d 526 (State v. Thomas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Thomas, 352 N.W.2d 526, 1984 Minn. App. LEXIS 3393 (Mich. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

OPINION

NIERENGARTEN, Judge.

Appellant Robert Thomas’ conviction for a sale of a controlled substance, assault in the second degree and obstructing legal process or arrest, arose out of a controlled sale of cocaine to an undercover state narcotics agent. Thomas claims the evidence was insufficient to support the assault conviction. He also raises sentencing questions, namely, that he was sentenced twice for a single behavioral incident and erroneously assigned a criminal history score point under the Hernandez method. We affirm.

FACTS

State BCA narcotics agents, Greg Hopps and Douglas Partyka, and informant, Michael Glinnon, went to Robert Thomas’ home to make a controlled buy of cocaine. Glinnon had earler informed the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office that cocaine could be bought from Thomas. While Partyka remained outside, Hopps and Glinnon completed a purchase with Thomas. Hopps then reached into his jacket pocket, displayed a pistol and badge, and identified himself as a state narcotics agent. He ordered everyone in the house to lie face down on the floor.

Hopps backed out of the room and called for Partyka. Thomas then got up, grabbed *528 the cocaine which was on a table in front of him and threw it into a wood burning stove. Hopps retrieved the cocaine but Thomas grabbed Hopps’ pistol. A struggle ensued. Hopps testified that during the struggle Thomas had gained sufficient control of the gun to be able to point it at him six different times; Thomas testified that he never had control of the gun but was merely acting out of fear for his life.

Meanwhile, Partyka arrived and observed the struggle through a window. He could not enter because Thomas’ girlfriend had barricaded the door. Partyka then broke the window with his gun, identified himself as a state police officer, and threatened to shoot Thomas if his girlfriend refused to open the door. She opened the door and Partyka immediately struck Thomas in the head with his gun, telling him he was under arrest.

Thomas continued to struggle with Hopps and Partyka. Hopps had lost his gun in the struggle and eventually, with the help of two Hubbard County Deputy Sheriffs who had then arrived, was able to subdue Thomas.

Thomas was convicted by a jury and sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 19 months for the sale of a controlled substance and 44 months for assault in the second degree (based on a criminal history score of four under the Hernandez method). No sentence was imposed for obstructing legal process or arrest.

ISSUES

1. Was the evidence sufficient to convict Thomas of assault in the second degree?

2. Was Thomas erroneously sentenced twice for a single behavioral incident in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.035 (Supp. 1983)?

3. Was Thomas erroneously assigned a criminal history point under Hernandez?

ANALYSIS

I

Thomas contends the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to convict him of assault in the second degree. It is well-settled that:

In reviewing a claim of insufficiency of the evidence, we are limited to ascertaining whether, given the facts and the record and the legitimate inferences that can be drawn from the facts, a jury could reasonably conclude that the defendant was guilty of the offense charged.

State v. Merrill, 274 N.W.2d 99, 111 (Minn.1978). “[0]n review of a criminal conviction we will construe the record most favorably to the state and will assume the evidence supporting the conviction was believed and the contrary evidence disbelieved.” State v. Pieschke, 295 N.W.2d 580, 584 (Minn.1980). “[Wjeighing the credibility of witnesses is the exclusive function of the jury.” Id; State v. Heinzer, 347 N.W.2d 535, 538 (Minn.Ct.App.1984).

Assault is:
(1) An act done with intent to cause fear in another of immediate bodily harm or death; or
(2) The intentional infliction of or attempt to inflict bodily harm upon another.

Minn.Stat. § 609.02, subd. 10 (1982). An assault in the second degree is committed by “[wjhoever assaults another with a dangerous weapon but without inflicting great bodily harm _” Minn.Stat. § 609.222 (1982).

Thomas’ contention that the evidence was insufficient to convict him is primarily based on his assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and his allegation that the evidence is deficient. He argues that neither Hopps’ nor Partyka’s testimony should be believed and, thus, there is no credible evidence on the element of intent.

Thomas’ intent may be determined from his words and actions in light of the circumstances surrounding his encounter with the officers. State v. Hardimon, 310 N.W.2d 564, 566 (Minn.1981). The jury must resolve conflicting testimo *529 ny, not the defendant. State v. Engholm, 290 N.W.2d 780, 784 (Minn.1980). The evidence is sufficient to convict Thomas of assault in the second degree.

II

Thomas further argues the assault and the sale of controlled substance convictions arose out of a single behavioral incident and thus he cannot be sentenced for both under Minn.Stat. § 609.035 (1982), which reads:

Except as provided in section 609.585, if a person’s conduct constitutes more than one offense under the laws of this state he may be punished for only one of such offenses and a conviction or acquittal of any one of them is a bar to prosecution for any other of them. All such offenses may be included in one prosecution which shall be stated in separate counts.

Minn.Stat. § 609.035 (1982).

In determining whether the offenses involved the same behavioral incident when intent is the element of both offenses, we must examine whether “the underlying conduct was motivated by a desire on the defendant’s part to obtain a single criminal objective or by two or more criminal objectives.” Mercer v. State, 290 N.W.2d 623, 626 (Minn.1980).

The sale of cocaine occurred shortly before the assault but the assault did not further the completion of the sale in any way. Thomas’ motive in assaulting the BCA agents was clearly unrelated to his motive for selling cocaine; separate criminal objectives were intended. Merely because two crimes were committed within a short time span and within the same area does not mean the single behavioral incident prohibition is violated.

Thomas attempts to analogize this fact situation with avoidance of apprehension cases. See State v. Gilbertson,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Marchbanks
632 N.W.2d 725 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2001)
State v. Kastner
429 N.W.2d 274 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1988)
In re the Welfare of D.A.H.
360 N.W.2d 676 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1985)
State v. Fischer
354 N.W.2d 29 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
352 N.W.2d 526, 1984 Minn. App. LEXIS 3393, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-thomas-minnctapp-1984.