State of Iowa v. Seith Keith ( 2019 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 18-1413
Filed June 5, 2019
STATE OF IOWA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
SEITH KEITH,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Mark R. Lawson,
Judge.
Seith Keith appeals his convictions for robbery in the first degree and willful
injury resulting in bodily injury. AFFIRMED.
Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, (until withdrawal), and Robert P.
Ranschau, Assistant Appellate Defender, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Louis S. Sloven, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., Tabor, J., and Gamble, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2019).
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GAMBLE, Senior Judge.
Following a bench trial, the trial court found Seith Keith guilty of robbery in
the first degree, in violation of Iowa Code section 711.2 (2017); and willful injury
causing bodily injury, in violation of Iowa Code section 708.4(2). On appeal, Keith
contends there is insufficient evidence that he specifically intended to cause
serious injury to the store clerk, a requisite for conviction on each charge.
The trial court thoroughly explained its findings:
[T]he court finds [Keith] purposely attempted to inflict a serious injury
on [the clerk]. He lunged at her through the back door with the knife
in his left hand, causing a laceration to her right arm. He threatened
her with the knife as she kicked at him while lying on the floor. His
aggressive postures suggests he was attempting to inflict a serious
injury. He should not benefit by the fact that she was successful in
fighting him off.
In addition, the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt
the second alternative of element no. 3, namely that [Keith] was
armed with a dangerous weapon. A “dangerous weapon” is any
device or instrument designed primarily for use in inflicting death or
injury, and when used in its designed manner is capable of inflicting
death. It is also any sort of instrument or device actually used in such
a way as to indicate the user intended to inflict death or serious injury,
and when so used is capable of inflicting death. By law, a knife with
a blade exceeding five inches in length is a dangerous weapon. Iowa
Code § 702.7.
The court finds [Keith] was armed with a knife. Although
[Keith] denied that he was armed with a knife in his testimony, he
admitted he was so armed in his interview with Detective Roloff. This
is confirmed by the in-store surveillance footage. The knife is clearly
visible in [Keith]’s left hand as he enters the store and in his right
hand while [the clerk] is on the floor. The blade is also clearly visible
when he approaches the cash drawer.
...
The State has proven . . . that [Keith] used this particular
folding knife in such a way as to indicate he intended to inflict death
or serious injury, and when so used is capable of inflicting death. In
reviewing the behind-the-counter surveillance video frame-by-frame
and in real time, [Keith] entered the store immediately behind the
clerk with the knife in his left hand. She manages to fend the knife
off with her right hand and arm. He pushes her to the floor. He then
transfers the knife to his right hand and holds it in an offensive
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position. She again fends him off; this time with her feet. He then
grabs her leg and pulls her out of view.
The defendant did not simply display the knife; he lunged at
her through the door and was in close enough proximity to injure her
with the knife. After pushing her to the floor, he continued to display
the knife in a threatening manner. If he used it as he demonstrated,
by stabbing or slashing, it is capable of inflicting death. [The clerk]
was able to fend [Keith] off with her feet. [The clerk] testified that she
was afraid she might be killed. This was a reasonable belief arising
from [Keith]’s threatening actions with the knife. He indicated to [the
clerk] by his actions that he intended to inflict death or serious injury.
Therefore, the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that
[Keith] was armed with a dangerous weapon.
The trial court’s findings of guilt are binding on us if they are supported by
substantial evidence. See State v. Hearn, 797 N.W.2d 577, 579 (Iowa 2010).
Evidence is substantial if it would convince a rational factfinder that the defendant
is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. at 579–80. In determining whether
substantial evidence supports a conviction, we view the evidence in the light most
favorable to upholding the trial court’s decision. See id.Surveillance video clearly shows Keith was armed with a knife that was
capable of inflicting death or serious injury, and there is substantial evidence to
support the trial court’s finding that Keith used the knife in a violent, stabbing, and
slashing manner, demonstrating his specific intent to inflict serious injury or death.
See Iowa Code § 702.7; State v. Durham, 323 N.W.2d 243, 245 (Iowa 1982); State
v. Berry, 549 N.W.2d 316, 318 (Iowa Ct. App. 1996) (noting the manner in which
a defendant uses a knife may indicate the defendant intends to cause death or
serious injury). Substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Keith purposely
attempted to seriously injure the store clerk or, in the alternative, he was armed
with a dangerous weapon in the commission of the robbery as required by Iowa
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Code section 711.2. In addition, substantial evidence supports Keith’s conviction
of willful injury causing bodily injury, in violation of section 708.4(2).
We are not persuaded by Keith’s argument that he was certainly capable of
causing serious injury and did not and, therefore, we should find he did not intend
to cause serious injury. Keith lunged at the clerk and cut her forearm with the knife.
While this was not a serious injury, proof of serious injury is not essential.1 The
evidence is sufficient to convince a rational factfinder beyond a reasonable doubt
that Keith used the knife in a manner that indicated his intent to inflict a serious
injury and that he purposely attempted to do so. Because there is substantial
evidence to support the convictions, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.
1
To find Keith guilty if willful injury resulting in bodily injury, the State was required to prove
the following elements:
(1) On or about the 6th day of November, 2017, [Keith] assaulted [the clerk].
(2) [Keith] specifically intended to cause a serious injury to [the clerk].
(3) [Keith]’s acts caused a bodily injury to [the clerk].