Opinion
No. 37232-4-III
03-02-2021
STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Christopher BACON, Appellant.
David Bruce Koch, Nielsen Koch PLLC, 1908 E Madison St., Seattle, WA, 98122-2842, for Appellant. Larry D. Steinmetz, Spokane Cnty. Prosc. Atty. Ofc., 1100 W Mallon Ave., Spokane, WA, 99260-2043, for Respondent.
David Bruce Koch, Nielsen Koch PLLC, 1908 E Madison St., Seattle, WA, 98122-2842, for Appellant.
Larry D. Steinmetz, Spokane Cnty. Prosc. Atty. Ofc., 1100 W Mallon Ave., Spokane, WA, 99260-2043, for Respondent.
PUBLISHED OPINION
Staab, J.
¶ 1 Christopher Bacon was found guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle and making or possessing a motor vehicle theft tool. On appeal, he challenges only the second conviction because the information omitted the crime's intent element. The State concedes and agrees the conviction should be reversed but maintains that it should be dismissed without prejudice. We hold that mens rea is an essential element of making or possessing motor vehicle theft tools under RCW 9A.56.063(1), reverse the challenged conviction, and dismiss it without prejudice.
FACTS
¶ 2 Mr. Bacon was a front-seat passenger in a stolen 1991 Honda Accord when a police officer stopped the car. The driver and Mr. Bacon were ordered out of the vehicle, detained, and frisked. Mr. Bacon had a brass-colored metal punch commonly used to break vehicle windows in his front pocket. A search incident to Mr. Bacon's arrest revealed a key ring of shaved keys on the front passenger seat of the car, a shaved GM key in the ignition, and more shaved keys on the key ring attached to the GM key. Another shaved key was discovered in one of Mr. Bacon's back pockets.
¶ 3 Mr. Bacon was charged by information with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle and the gross misdemeanor charge of making or possessing a motor vehicle theft tool. A jury convicted him of both counts.
ANALYSIS
¶ 4 For the first time on appeal, Mr. Bacon contends that the information was constitutionally deficient as to the charge of possessing motor vehicle theft tools because it failed to include the necessary intent element of the crime. While the general rule prohibits raising an issue for the first time on appeal, an exception applies for a "manifest error affecting a constitutional right." RAP 2.5(a). An accused has the right under our State and Federal Constitutions to be informed of the charges filed against him. U.S. CONST. amend. VI ; CONST. art. 1, § 22 (amend. 10). Washington recognizes that a charging document that fails to include all necessary elements of a crime raises such a constitutional challenge. State v. Haberman , 105 Wash. App. 926, 933, 22 P.3d 264 (2001).
¶ 5 A constitutional challenge to a charging document is reviewed de novo. State v. Goss , 186 Wash.2d 372, 376, 378 P.3d 154 (2016). However, when a charging document is challenged for the first time on appeal, we liberally construe the document. State v. McCarty , 140 Wash.2d 420, 425, 998 P.2d 296 (2000). When the information is read liberally, the document will be found sufficient "if the necessary elements appear in any form, or by fair construction may be found, on the face of the document." Id. On the other hand, "[i]f the document cannot be construed to give notice of or to contain in some manner the essential elements of a crime, the most liberal reading cannot cure it." State v. Campbell , 125 Wash.2d 797, 802, 888 P.2d 1185 (1995).
¶ 6 In this case, Mr. Bacon asserts that count two of the information failed to include the necessary element of intent. Specifically regarding that count, the information alleged:
COUNT II: MAKING OR POSSESSING A MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT TOOL, committed as follows: That the defendant, CHRISTOPHER BACON, in the State of Washington, on or about May 15, 2019, did possess a motor vehicle theft tool or implement that has been adapted, designed or is commonly used in the commission of motor vehicle related theft, to-wit: a SHAVED KEYS, allowing the motor vehicle theft tool to be used or employed in the commission of motor vehicle theft.
Clerk's Papers at 6.
¶ 7 The first question to address is whether mens rea is a necessary element of the crime of making or possessing a motor vehicle theft tool.
¶ 8 The relevant statute provides:
Any person who makes or mends, or causes to be made or mended, uses, or has in his or her possession any motor vehicle theft tool, that is adapted, designed, or commonly used for the commission of motor vehicle related theft, under circumstances evincing an intent to use or employ, or allow the same to be used or employed, in the commission of motor vehicle theft, or knowing that the same is intended to be so used, is guilty of making or having motor vehicle theft tools.
RCW 9A.56.063(1) (emphasis added).
¶ 9 The statute provides alternatives means of committing the crime. Under the first alternative, the necessary mens rea requires the State to prove circumstances evincing an intent to use, employ, or allow the tool to be used or employed. As the State points out, under the "series-qualifier canon" of statutory construction, the phrase "under circumstances evincing an intent" modifies both phrases "to use or employ" as well as "allow the same to be used or employed." See Porto Rico Ry., Light & Power Co. v. Mor , 253 U.S. 345, 348, 40 S. Ct. 516, 64 L. Ed. 944 (1920) ; see also ANTONIN SCALIA & BRYAN A. GARNER, READING LAW: THE INTERPRETATION OF LEGAL TEXTS 147 (2012).
The State sets forth significant and appreciable analysis on the rules of construction in its brief.
¶ 10 Alternatively, the State could prove that the defendant knew the tool was intended to be used in the theft of a motor vehicle. These alternatives require proof of either intent or knowledge. Thus, mens rea is a necessary element of making or possessing motor vehicle theft tools under RCW 9A.56.063(1).
¶ 11 The Constitution requires a charging document to include all the necessary elements of a crime. State v. Kjorsvik , 117 Wash.2d 93, 97, 812 P.2d 86 (1991). While it is not necessary to use the exact language of a statute, the language used must convey the same meaning. Id. at 108, 812 P.2d 86. The information in this case, when viewed as a whole, failed to notify Mr. Bacon that the crime was committed with intent or knowledge, even when read liberally.
¶ 12 We reverse and dismiss without prejudice Mr. Bacon's conviction on count two: making or possessing a motor vehicle theft tool.
WE CONCUR:
Siddoway, A.C.J.
Lawrence-Berrey, J.