State of Washington v. Uriel Ortiz ( 2013 )


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  •                                                                           FILED
    AUGUST 22, 2013
    In the Office of the Clerk of Court
    W A State Court of Appeals, Division III
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    DNISION THREE
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                           )
    )        No. 30198-2-111
    Respondent,            )
    )
    v.                                      )
    )
    URIEL ORTIZ,                                   )        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    )
    Appellant.             )
    KORSMO, C.J. -      Uriel Ortiz challenges his convictions for two counts of second
    degree assault and two counts of felony harassment on the basis of evidentiary
    sufficiency, evidentiary and instructional error, and prosecutorial misconduct. We find
    no error, and affirm.
    FACTS
    Late in the evening of May 21,2011, Uriel Ortiz was atthe store with his teenage
    son, Abraham Ortiz, when a friend informed him that Sarah Humphries had gone to Mr.
    Ortiz's residence to speak with Mr. Ortiz's wife, Patricia Rivera. Mr. Ortiz, who was
    No. 30 198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    engaged in an extra marital affair with Ms. Humphries, became visibly upset and
    declared he was going to find and kill Ms. Humphries.
    During this time, Ms. Humphries contacted Ms. Rivera at the family residence.
    Ms. Humphries expressed concern that Mr. Ortiz would return, so the women walked
    down the street. Mr. Ortiz, Abraham, and the friend returned to the family residence
    where they searched for Ms. Rivera. Abraham noticed Mr. Ortiz was wearing a holster
    with a handgun in it. The only weapon the family had in the house was a BB rifle.
    Mr. Ortiz spotted the women down the street, contacted them, and threatened Ms.
    Humphries by pointing a gun toward her feet. Ms. Humphries stepped back and both
    women appeared scared. Ms. Rivera stepped in front of Ms. Humphries and attempted to
    push the gun away. Mr. Ortiz told Ms. Humphries she had better not come around and
    threatened to kill her.
    After threatening Ms. Humphries, Mr. Ortiz returned to the family residence and
    told Abraham to go get Ms. Rivera. Ms. Rivera returned to the residence and Ms.
    Humphries left the area. According to Abraham, Mr. Ortiz told Ms. Rivera to avoid Ms.
    Humphries and knocked Ms. Rivera down when she tried to leave the room, telling her
    he was going to find and kill Ms. Humphries. According to Ms. Rivera, Mr. Ortiz pushed
    her down and proceeded to hit and kick her before pulling out the gun and telling her he
    would shoot her. He also told her that he was going to kill Ms. Humphries, and that he
    would kill Ms. Rivera if she left the family residence.
    2
    No. 30198-2-111
    State v. Ortiz
    After Mr. Ortiz left, Ms. Rivera called the police. The police took Ms. Rivera and
    her children to the police station, and attempted to locate Mr. Ortiz. They eventually
    spoke with Mr. Ortiz on Abraham's cell phone and arranged to meet with him at the
    family residence approximately 45 minutes after the 911 call.
    Mr. Ortiz immediately told the police the gun he used to threaten Ms. Humphries
    was a toy gun and directed the officers to a revolver-type BB gun lying on the ground
    outside the house. He was not wearing a holster. He also told the police he confronted
    the women with the BB gun and acted like he was going to slap Ms. Humphries with it.
    He denied hitting or threatening Ms. Rivera.
    Mr. Ortiz was charged with two counts of second degree assault with a deadly
    weapon and two counts of felony harassment. Prior to trial, the State moved to admit
    evidence of two prior incidents of domestic violence committed by Mr. Ortiz against Ms.
    Rivera; one incident occurred in March 2011 and the other on May 20, 2011. Over
    objection, the trial court ruled the evidence was admissible under ER 404(b) to prove Ms.
    Rivera's reasonable fear and reasonable apprehension of bodily injury as well as to assist
    the jury in assessing Ms. Rivera's credibility. The defense did not request a limiting
    instruction.
    Neither Ms. Humphries nor Mr. Ortiz testified at trial. After the State presented
    its case, Mr. Ortiz moved to dismiss all charges, arguing the State had failed to show he
    used a deadly weapon to threaten the women and that there was insufficient evidence to
    3
    No. 30 198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    prove he committed felony harassment of Ms. Humphries. The trial court denied the
    motion and the jury subsequently found Mr. Ortiz guilty on all four counts.
    He timely appealed to this court.
    ANALYSIS
    Mr. Ortiz alleges the trial court erred by admitting evidence of Mr. Ortiz's prior
    acts of domestic violence. He also claims the prosecutor committed misconduct,
    challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, and contends the trial court violated his right
    to a unanimous jury verdict. We address each argument in tum. l
    ER 404(b) Evidence
    Mr. Ortiz first argues the trial court erred by admitting evidence of his prior acts of
    domestic violence against Ms. Rivera under ER 404(b). He claims the prosecutor did not
    establish the purpose for which the evidence was admitted and also that the trial court
    failed to conduct the required ER 404(b) balancing test. We conclude that the prior acts
    of domestic violence were properly admitted under ER 404(b) to assist the jury in
    assessing Ms. Rivera's credibility and state of mind.
    A defendant's prior acts of domestic abuse against the alleged victim are
    admissible under ER 404(b) to assist the jury in assessing the victim's credibility as a
    witness and the victim's state ofmind. State v. Grant, 
    83 Wn. App. 98
    , 106-08,
    920 P.2d 1
     Mr.Ortiz also raises a cumulative error argument, but because we conclude there
    were no errors, there is no basis for finding cumulative error.
    4
    No.30198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    609 (1996); State v. Barragan, 
    102 Wn. App. 754
    ,
    9 P.3d 942
     (2000). A victim's
    knowledge ofthe defendant's past behavior is highly probative evidence that bears
    directly on the reasonableness of the victim's fear. See, e.g., Barragan, 102 Wn. App. at
    759; State v. Ragin, 
    94 Wn. App. 407
    ,411,
    972 P.2d 519
     (1999); State v. Binkin, 
    79 Wn. App. 284
    , 291, 
    902 P.2d 673
     (1995), abrogated by State v. Kilgore, 
    147 Wn.2d 288
    ,
    53 P.3d 974
     (2002).
    The decision to admit evidence under ER 404(b) is reviewed for an abuse of
    discretion. State v. DeVincentis, 
    150 Wn.2d 11
    , 17, 
    74 P.3d 119
     (2003). A trial court
    abuses its discretion if it fails to abide by the rule's requirements. State v. Foxhoven, 
    161 Wn.2d 168
    , 174, 
    163 P.3d 786
     (2007). Discretion is also abused ifit is exercised on
    untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. State ex reI. Carroll v. Junker, 
    79 Wn.2d 12
    ,
    26,
    482 P.2d 775
     (1971).
    The court held a pretrial hearing on July 26, 2011, to determine the admissibility
    of prior incidences of domestic violence committed by Mr. Ortiz against his wife. The
    first incident occurred in March 2011, and resulted in Ms. Rivera calling the police. The
    second occurred on May 20, 2011.
    The trial court ruled that the evidence of Mr. Ortiz's prior assaultive conduct
    toward Ms. Rivera was admissible under ER 404(b) for two reasons. The court noted:
    So in general there are two separate legal theories that require the
    admissibility of prior threats and acts of domestic violence. One, to assess
    the domestic violence situation dynamics of the relationship to determine
    5
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    whether the victim should be granted credibility. And the other
    independent basis is that the defendant's charged with harassment and
    the-part of that charge, one of the elements is the establishment of a real
    threat and a reasonable apprehension of~that the harm-the threat will be
    carried out.
    Report of Proceedings July 26, 2011 at 25.
    We agree that the evidence of Mr. Ortiz's prior assaultive conduct toward Ms.
    Rivera was admissible under ER 404(b). To prove assault and harassment, the State had
    to prove Ms. Rivera's state of mind: that she was placed in reasonable fear by the threat
    to kill her, and she was placed in reasonable apprehension and fear of imminent bodily
    injury when Mr. Ortiz pointed the gun at her. Mr. Ortiz's history of domestic violence
    against Ms. Rivera was admissible to assess her state of mind. Barragan, 102 Wn. App.
    at 759; Ragin, 94 Wn. App. at 411; Binkin, 79 Wn. App. at 291. Additionally, the
    evidence was relevant in assessing Ms. Rivera's credibility as a witness. Grant, 83 Wn.
    App. at 106-08. The prior acts of violence helped explain Ms. Rivera's inconsistent
    action ofretuming to the residence after Mr. Ortiz's original threats. The prior acts were
    admissible under ER 404(b).
    Mr. Ortiz also claims the trial court erred in admitting the evidence because it did
    not balance all the necessary factors before admitting the evidence under ER 404(b). In
    order to admit evidence of other bad acts under ER 404(b), the proponent of the evidence
    must first convince a trial court by a preponderance of the evidence that the "misconduct"
    actually occurred. State v. Lough, 
    125 Wn.2d 847
    ,853,
    889 P.2d 487
     (1995). A trial
    6
    No. 30198-2-111
    State v. Ortiz
    court may conduct a hearing to take testimony, but is not required to do so. State v.
    Kilgore, 
    147 Wn.2d at 294-95
    . If the court determines that the misconduct occurred, the
    court then must identify the purpose for which the evidence is offered, determine whether
    the evidence is relevant to prove an element of the offense, and weigh the probative value
    of the evidence against its prejudicial effect. Lough, 
    125 Wn.2d at 853
    . The failure to
    balance the probative value versus the prejudicial effect on the record may not be fatal if
    the trial court has established a sufficient record of the reasons for admitting the
    evidence. State v. Jackson, 
    102 Wn.2d 689
    , 694, 
    689 P.2d 76
     (1984).
    The trial court did not expressly state whether it found the prior acts of domestic
    violence actually occurred, but the record reflects the court's belief that the prior
    misconduct did occur as described by the State. The trial court identified the purpose for
    which the evidence was offered and determined it was relevant to prove the reasonable
    fear element of felony harassment and the reasonable apprehension element of second
    degree assault, as well as assist the jury in assessing Ms. Rivera's credibility. The trial
    court did not conduct the balancing on the record. However, the trial court established a
    sufficient record identifying the purpose for which it believed the evidence was relevant
    and admissible to allow review of its decision. See Jackson, 
    102 Wn.2d at 694
    .
    Applying the four-part test to this case, the record shows the trial court had tenable
    reasons for admitting the prior acts of domestic violence. First, the State proved the
    occurrence of the acts by a preponderance of the evidence. The State admitted a police
    7
    No. 30 198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    incident report and Mr. Ortiz did not challenge the occurrence of the prior acts either at
    trial or on appeal. When performing an ER 404(b) analysis, a trial court may rely on an
    offer of proof by the lawyer offering the evidence. Kilgore, 
    147 Wn.2d at 294-95
    . After
    both parties have argued the matter and the court clearly agrees with one side, this court
    can excuse the trial court's lack of an explicit finding that the misconduct occurred. State
    v. Stein, 
    140 Wn. App. 43
    , 66, 
    165 P.3d 16
     (2007).
    The evidence was introduced for the purpose of showing that Mr. Ortiz had a
    history of committing violence against Ms. Rivera, and it was relevant to prove the
    reasonable apprehension element of the second degree assault charge as well as the
    reasonable fear element of the felony harassment charge. Although the trial court failed
    to weigh the prejudice on the record, this was harmless error because the record is
    sufficient for this court to determine that the trial court would still have admitted the
    evidence. State v. Carleton, 
    82 Wn. App. 680
    , 686-87, 
    919 P.2d 128
     (1996). While the
    evidence certainly had a prejudicial effect by showing that Mr. Ortiz had a history of
    committing domestic abuse against Ms. Rivera, the evidence was highly probative
    because it demonstrated that Ms. Rivera's fear of substantial bodily harm or death was
    reasonable in light of her history with Mr. Ortiz, and it explained her inconsistent action
    of returning to the residence. Even though the trial court failed to articulate all four
    factors of the ER 404(b) test on the record, this was not reversible error. The evidence
    was properly admitted.
    8
    No. 30 I 98-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    Prosecutorial Misconduct
    Mr. Ortiz next claims the prosecutor committed misconduct during closing
    argument by repeatedly urging the jury to consider his past acts of domestic violence for
    the improper purpose of arguing that he was the type of person who threatened women
    and he was not a credible witness. He also argues the prosecutor improperly emphasized
    the prior bad acts evidence to gamer sympathy for Ms. Rivera and Ms. Humphries and
    appeal to the jury's passions. No prosecutorial misconduct occurred.
    Counsel is allowed in closing argument to draw and express reasonable inferences
    from the evidence produced at trial. State v. Hale, 
    26 Wn. App. 211
    , 216, 
    611 P.2d 1370
    (1980) (quoting State v. Adams, 
    76 Wn.2d 650
    ,660,
    458 P.2d 558
     (1969), rev'd, 
    403 U.S. 947
    , 
    91 S. Ct. 2273
    , 29 L. Ed 855 (1971)). On the other hand, "[m]ere appeals to
    jury passion and prejudice, as well as prejudicial allusions to matters outside the
    evidence, are inappropriate." State v. Belgarde, 
    110 Wn.2d 504
    ,507, 
    755 P.2d 174
    (1988). When improper argument is alleged, the defense bears the burden of establishing
    the impropriety of the prosecuting attorney's comments as well as their prejudicial effect.
    State v. Hoffman, 
    116 Wn.2d 51
    ,93,
    804 P.2d 577
     (1991).
    In determining whether prosecutorial comments have denied the defendant a fair
    trial, a reviewing court must decide whether the comments are improper and, if so,
    whether there is a substantial likelihood that the comments affected the verdict. State v.
    Reed, 
    102 Wn.2d 140
    , 145,
    684 P.2d 699
     (1984). "Allegedly improper arguments should
    9
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    be reviewed in the context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence
    . 	 addressed in the argument, and the instructions given." State v. Graham, 
    59 Wn. App. 418
    ,428, 
    798 P.2d 314
     (1990). A failure to object to an improper remark constitutes a
    waiver unless the comment is flagrant and ill intentioned and the resulting prejudice so
    enduring that jury admonitions could not neutralize its effect. State v. Charlton, 
    90 Wn.2d 657
    , 661,
    585 P.2d 142
     (1978). Since Mr. Ortiz failed to object to any of the
    challenged statements, he may only prove misconduct if he shows the challenged
    statements were so flagrant they could not have been cured by an instruction.
    As discussed previously, evidence of prior domestic abuse is admissible to assess
    the victim's reasonable fear of the defendant and the victim's credibility. Grant, 83 Wn.
    App. at 105. Here, the prosecutor referred to the prior incidents to explain that Ms.
    Rivera was placed in reasonable fear and apprehension that Mr. Ortiz was going to kill
    her, and to rebut Mr. Ortiz's argument that the women would not have taken his threats
    seriously was not credible in light of his history. This was an argument the prosecutor
    could properly make based on the evidence presented at trial.
    Mr. Ortiz also takes issue with the prosecutor's comment that Ms. Rivera and Ms.
    Humphries "didn't deserve" the things Mr. Ortiz was accused of doing, arguing that this
    improper comment attempted to obtain a conviction based on the passions of the jury. He
    does not cite to any case law to support his argument that this was an improper comment.
    Furthermore, he has failed to demonstrate that any of the challenged comments were so
    10
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    flagrant and ill-intentioned that they demonstrate an enduring and resulting prejudice that
    could not have been neutralized by an admonition to the jury.
    Sufficiency ofthe Evidence
    Mr. Ortiz also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support both second
    degree assault convictions and the harassment conviction relating to Ms. Humphries. The
    evidence supported the convictions.
    Evidence is sufficient to support a verdict if the trier of fact has a factual basis for
    finding each element of the offense proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v.
    Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    , 319, 
    99 S. Ct. 2781
    , 
    61 L. Ed. 2d 560
     (1979); State v. Green, 
    94 Wn.2d 216
    ,221-22,
    616 P.2d 628
     (1980). The reviewing court will consider the
    evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution. Green, 
    94 Wn.2d at 221
    .
    Mr. Ortiz contends that the BB gun did not constitute a deadly weapon and
    therefore all the elements of second degree assault were not proved beyond a reasonable
    doubt. However, the State did not rely on the BB gun to prove a deadly weapon existed.
    Second degree assault was charged on the theory that Mr. Ortiz intentionally
    assaulted both women with a deadly weapon. RCW 9A.36.021(l)(c). At trial, the State
    introduced the BB gun police recovered from Mr. Ortiz. Abraham testified that the gun
    he saw Mr. Ortiz carrying in a holster was not the family's BB rifle, and Ms. Rivera
    testified that the revolver-type BB gun the police recovered was not the same gun Mr.
    Ortiz used to threaten the women. Ms. Rivera also testified that to her knowledge the
    11
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    only weapon the family had kept in the house was a BB rifle, but she had seen bullets for
    a handgun in a kitchen drawer. According to Ms. Rivera, Mr. Ortiz pointed the gun in
    the direction of Ms. Humphries' feet. When the defense moved to dismiss the second
    degree assault charges, the trial court denied the motion on the basis that while the BB
    gun was not a deadly weapon, there was ample evidence that a real firearm was used to
    threaten the women.
    RCW 9A.04.110(6) defines a "deadly weapon" as:
    [A]ny explosive or loaded or unloaded firearm, and shall include any other
    weapon, device, instrument, article, or substance, including a "vehicle" as
    defined in this section, which, under the circumstances in which it is used,
    attempted to be used, or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing
    death or substantial bodily harm.
    The statute creates two categories of deadly weapons: firearms and explosives
    which are deadly weapons per se, and any other weapon or instrument that is readily
    capable of causing substantial bodily harm depending on the circumstances in which it is
    used, or threatened to be used. State v. Car/son, 
    65 Wn. App. 153
    , 158-59,
    828 P.2d 30
    (1992). The circumstances of a weapon's use may include the intent and present ability
    of the use, the degree of force, the part of the body to which it is applied, and the physical
    injuries inflicted. State v. Winings, 
    126 Wn. App. 75
    , 87, 
    107 P.3d 141
     (2005). Whether
    a BB gun is a deadly weapon is normally a question for the trier of fact. State v. Tay/or,
    
    97 Wn. App. 123
    , 126, 
    982 P.2d 687
     (1999).
    12
    No.30198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    Here, the State presented testimony from both Abraham and Ms. Rivera asserting
    that the gun Mr. Ortiz used to threaten the women was not the BB gun the police
    recovered. Mr. Ortiz had time to dispose of a firearm between the time that he left the
    house and he agreed to meet with police. Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence
    carry equal weight. State v. Goodman, 
    150 Wn.2d 774
    , 781, 
    83 P.3d 410
     (2004). The
    evidence allowed the jury to conclude that Mr. Ortiz used a real firearm. The evidence
    thus was sufficient.
    Mr. Ortiz also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the conviction
    for felony harassment of Ms. Humphries, arguing there was no evidence of her subjective
    state of mind. This argument incorrectly assumes that the State cannot rely on
    circumstantial evidence to prove a victim's state of mind.
    As charged here, felony harassment required proof that the offender, without
    lawful authority, threatened to kill another and by his words or conduct placed the person
    threatened in reasonable fear that the threat would be carried out. RCW
    9A,46.020(1 )(a)(i), (2)(b)(ii). The harassment statute is construed in light of the First
    Amendment to only reach true threats. State v. Kilburn, 
    151 Wn.2d 36
    ,43,
    84 P.3d 1215
    (2004). A true threat is "a statement made in a context or under such circumstances
    wherein a reasonable person would foresee that the statement would be interpreted ...as
    a serious expression of intention to inflict bodily harm upon or to take the life of [another
    13
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    individual]." State v. Williams, 
    144 Wn.2d 197
    ,207-08,
    26 P.3d 890
     (2001) (internal
    quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Knowles, 
    91 Wn. App. 367
    , 373,
    957 P.2d 797
    (1998». the test is an objective one, based on the speaker. State v. Stephenson, 
    89 Wn. App. 794
    , 801, 950 P .2d 38 (1998). The speaker of a true threat does not have to actually
    intend to carry out the threat-it is enough that a reasonable speaker would foresee that
    the threat would be considered serious. Kilburn, 
    151 Wn.2d at 46
    .
    Thus, the State not only had to show that Mr. Ortiz made a threat to kill Ms.
    Humphries, but it also had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the threat placed Ms.
    Humphries in reasonable fear of it being carried out. Ms. Humphries did not give a
    statement to the police and she did not testify at trial. However, both Abraham and Ms.
    Rivera testified that Ms. Humphries appeared scared when Mr. Ortiz pointed the gun at
    her feet and she tried to back away from him. 2 Ms. Rivera also testified that Ms.
    Humphries appeared scared of Mr. Ortiz when she first appeared at the residence and
    requested to talk to Ms. Rivera somewhere away from the house because she was afraid
    Mr. Ortiz would show up while they were talking. She also left the area once Mr. Ortiz
    went inside the residence.
    Circumstantial evidence is as reliable as direct evidence, and the State may prove
    its case with only circumstantial evidence. See, e.g., Goodman, 
    150 Wn.2d at 781
    ; State
    2 As the trial judge noted, most if not all reasonable persons would be placed in
    reasonable fear if a person threatened to kill them while pointing a gun in their direction.
    14
    No.30198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    v. Delmarter, 
    94 Wn.2d 634
    , 638, 
    618 P.2d 99
     (1980). As the trial court noted, there is
    no rule that the victim's reasonable fear that the threat to kill will be carried out cannot be
    proved by circumstantial evidence alone. Normally the victim testifies because that is the
    simplest way to prove the victim was placed in reasonable fear. This case presents a
    unique situation in that the State did not present any testimony from Ms. Humphries.
    However, the previously noted evidence established her state of mind. The
    evidence of Ms. Humphries's evident fear and the circumstances surrounding the threat
    allowed the jury to conclude that a reasonable person in her position would likely be
    placed in reasonable fear. The evidence of felony harassment was sufficient.
    Right to Unanimous Jury Verdict
    Mr. Ortiz's final argument is that the court erred by not giving a unanimity
    instruction because the State presented evidence of three different acts that could have
    constituted the second degree assault against Ms. Rivera. A unanimity instruction was
    not necessary here because one of the three acts occurred on a different day and the
    , remaining two acts were part of a continuing course of conduct.
    The question ofjury unanimity is an issue of constitutional magnitude that can be
    raised initially on appeaL CONST. art. I, § 21; RAP 2.5(a)(3); State v. Fiallo-Lopez, 
    78 Wn. App. 717
    ,725,
    899 P.2d 1294
     (1995). This assignment of error is reviewed de novo.
    State v. Bradshaw, 
    152 Wn.2d 528
    ,531,
    98 P.3d 1190
     (2004).
    15
    No. 30 198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    Only a unanimous jury can return a "guilty" verdict in a criminal case. State v.
    Camarillo, 
    115 Wn.2d 60
    , 63, 
    794 P.2d 850
     (1990). Where the evidence shows multiple
    acts occurred that could constitute the charged offense, the State must either elect which
    act it relies upon or the jury must be instructed that it must unanimously agree upon
    which act it found. State v. Petrich, 
    101 Wn.2d 566
    ,572,
    683 P.2d 173
     (1984).
    Constitutional error occurs if there is no election and no unanimity instruction is given.
    State v. Bobenhouse, 
    166 Wn.2d 881
    ,893,
    214 P.3d 907
     (2009); State v. Kitchen, 
    110 Wn.2d 403
    , 411, 756 P .2d 105 (1988). This type of error requires a new trial unless
    shown to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Camarillo, 
    115 Wn.2d at 64
    .
    No election or unanimity instruction is needed if the defendant's acts were part of
    a continuing course of conduct. State v. Handran, 
    113 Wn.2d 11
    , 17, 
    775 P.2d 453
    (1989). Appellate courts must "review the facts in a commonsense manner to decide
    whether criminal conduct constitutes one continuing act." Fiallo-Lopez, 
    78 Wn. App. at 724
    . A continuing course of conduct exists when actions promote one objective and
    occur at the same time and place. Petrich, 
    101 Wn.2d at 571
    ; State v. Love, 
    80 Wn. App. 357
    ,361,
    908 P.2d 395
     (1996). A continuing course of conduct also exists when the
    charged criminal behavior is an "ongoing enterprise." -State v. Gooden, 
    51 Wn. App. 615
    ,
    620, 
    754 P.2d 1000
     (1988) (promoting prostitution was ongoing enterprise).
    The charging document alleged that on May 22, 2011, Mr. Ortiz intentionally
    assaulted Ms. Rivera with a deadly weapon. The State presented evidence that when Mr.
    16
    No.30198-2-III
    State v. Ortiz
    Ortiz pointed the gun at Ms. Humphries's feet and threatened to kill her, Ms. Rivera
    stepped between them and attempted to push the gun away. The State also presented
    evidence that after Mr. Ortiz and Ms. Rivera returned to their residence, Mr. Ortiz pushed
    Ms. Rivera to the ground, pointed the gun at her, and threatened to kill her. Additionally,
    the State presented evidence of an assault against Ms. Rivera on May 20.
    The jury could not have considered the earlier incident because it occurred prior to
    the charging date, and there was no evidence that Mr. Ortiz assaulted Ms. Rivera with a
    deadly weapon during that incident. As to the two remaining acts involving the gun on
    May 22, no unanimity instruction was necessary because those two acts were part of a
    continuing course of conduct.
    In determining whether multiple acts were part of a continuing course of conduct,
    the reviewing court considers (1) the time separating the acts, and (2) whether the acts
    involved the same parties, location, and ultimate purpose. State v. Brown, 
    159 Wn. App. 1
    , 14, 
    248 P.3d 518
     (2010). Here, the two acts were only separated by a short period of
    time and they occurred in the same general location. Mr. Ortiz initially threatened both
    women with the gun because he was angry that they had been talking and that his wife
    was made aware of his extra marital affair with Ms. Humphries. After Ms. Humphries
    escaped the situation and Ms. Rivera returned to the residence, he continued to make
    threats against both women while pointing the gun at Ms. Rivera. Both acts were
    motivated by the fact that Mr. Ortiz did not want the women to have any contact with
    17
    No. 30 198-2-II1
    State v. Ortiz
    each other. Since the two acts of assault against Ms. Rivera were part of a continuing
    course of conduct, it was unnecessary for the trial court to give a Petrich instruction.
    The convictions are affirmed.
    A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
    Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
    2.06.040.
    Korsmo, C.J.
    WE CONCUR:
    Brown,   1.
    18