State of Washington v. Lynn Marie Arnhold ( 2014 )

FILED
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
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
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 31381-6-111
Respondent, )
)
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
LYNN MARIE ARNHOLD, )
)
Appellant. )
SIDDOWAY, C.J. Lynn Arnhold appeals her convictions of third degree assault
and resisting arrest, arguing that the State presented insufficient evidence to support the
convictions. Specifically, she argues the State did not prove she had the intent to assault
a police officer nor the intent to resist arrest. Because the State presented sufficient
evidence, we affmn the convictions.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In August 2012, Twisp Police Officer Michael Hartnett arrested Lynn Arnhold
pursuant to a felony arrest warrant. In the process of the arrest, Ms. Arnhold allegedly bit
Officer Ty Sheehan. The State charged Ms. Arnhold with criminal trespass, resisting
arrest, and assault of a law enforcement officer.
No. 31381-6-III
State v. Arnhold
At trial, Officer Hartnett testified that he received a call informing him that Ms.
Arnhold, who had a felony warrant out for her arrest, was at Horseshoe Trailer Park. He
traveled to the trailer park, where he found Ms. Arnhold inside the mobile home of the
trailer park manager, Janice Timbers. He immediately told Ms. Arnhold she was under
arrest. Ms. Arnhold answered that she would not allow him to arrest her and started
flailing her arms. Concerned the situation would escalate, Officer Hartnett grabbed one
of Ms. Arnhold's arms and pulled her out of the mobile home. After he pulled her
outside, she was still struggling to get away. By that time, Officer Sheehan arrived; he
removed his stun gun and placed it on Ms. Arnhold's shoulder, at which point she
stopped struggling.
Officer Hartnett testified that he placed handcuffs on Ms. Arnhold and together he
and Officer Sheehan began to escort Ms. Arnhold to the patrol car. While walking down
the stairs from the porch, Officer Hartnett felt Ms. Arnhold lunge to the right;
simultaneously, Officer Hartnett heard Officer Sheehan exclaim "she bit me." Report of
Proceedings (RP) at 190. Officer Hartnett testified that a bruise in the shape of a
semicircle appeared on Officer Sheehan's bicep. He expressed his opinion that the bruise
was a result of a bite. The State produced three photographs of the bruise that were
admitted into evidence and published to the jury.
Officer Sheehan testified to substantially the same events.
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No. 31381-6-III
State v. Arnhold
Janice Timbers was also called as a witness by the State. She testified that "[Ms.
Arnhold] was not very cooperative" and "she was putting up a little fight." RP at 205.
Ms. Arnhold testified in her defense. She explained she was aware there was a
warrant out for her arrest and she therefore complied with all of Officer Hartnett's
instructions. She testified that Officer Hartnett never told her she was under arrest;
rather, he immediately informed her she was resisting arrest. Finally, addressing her
interaction with Officer Sheehan, she testified she did not bite him nor would she have
been able to, because there was a stun gun on her jugular.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty on the charges of assault and resisting arrest,
and a not guilty verdict on the criminal trespass count. Ms. Arnhold timely appealed.
ANALYSIS
Ms. Arnhold challenges the sufficiency of evidence to sustain her two convictions.
In each case, she challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to establish that she acted
with the requisite intent. We address these arguments in tum.
I Third degree assault
Ms. Arnhold contends there is insufficient evidence to sustain her conviction for
the third degree assault of Officer Sheehan. Specifically, she contends the State failed to
prove she intended to assault him. "A person is guilty of assault in the third degree if he
or she ... [a]ssaults a law enforcement officer or other employee of a law enforcement
agency who was performing his or her official duties at the time ofthe assault." RCW
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No. 31381-6-111
State v. Arnhold
9A.36.031(1)(g). Intent is implied as an element of third degree assault. State v. Tunney,
129 Wn.2d 336,341,917 P.2d 95 (1996). "A person acts with intent or intentionally
when he or she acts with the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes
a crime." RCW 9A.08.010(1)(a).
A jury may infer that a defendant acted with intent even when there is no direct
evidence. State v. Bea, 162 Wash. App. 570, 579,254 P.3d 948 (2011) (citing State v.
Caliguri, 99 Wash. 2d 501, 506, 664 P.2d 466 (1983)). "A jury may infer criminal intent
from a defendant's conduct where it is plainly indicated as a matter of logical probability.
This includes inferring or permissibly presuming that a defendant intends the natural and
probable consequences of his or her acts." Id. (citations omitted).
In determining whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain Ms. Arnhold's
conviction, this court must decide whether "after viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt." State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d 192,201,829 P.2d 1068 (1992). A claim
of insufficient evidence admits the truth of the State's evidence as well as the truth of all
reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. Id. It is for the fact finder to determine the
credibility of witnesses and the persuasiveness of evidence. In re Disciplinary
Proceeding Against Kuvara, 97 Wn.2d 743,747,649 P.2d 834 (1982).
At trial, the jury was presented with Officer Sheehan's testimony that Ms. Arnhold
bit him and Officer Hartnett's testimony that as the officers escorted Ms. Arnhold to the
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No. 31381-6-111
State v. Arnhold
patrol car, he felt her body sway toward Officer Sheehan and then heard Officer Sheehan
exclaim that she had bit him. Both officers testified to their observations of the resulting
bruise and three photographs of Officer Sheehan's arm were admitted into evidence.
Although Ms. Arnhold denied biting Officer Sheehan, it is for the fact finder to decide
what weight and credibility to assign witness testimony. Id.
Substantial evidence permitted the jury to infer Ms. Arnhold intended to bite
Officer Sheehan.
IL Resisting arrest
Ms. Arnhold next contends there was insufficient evidence to convict her of
resisting arrest. A person is guilty of resisting arrest in violation ofRCW 9A.76.040(1)
"ifhe or she intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from lawfully
arresting him or her." Again, "[a] person acts ... intentionally when he or she acts with
the objective or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes a crime," RCW
9A.08.01O(1)(a), and the jury can infer intent. The same standard of review applies.
Three witnesses testified to a struggle between Ms. Arnhold and Officer Hartnett.
Officer Hartnett described Ms. Arnhold physically resisting, "actively pulling away," and
refusing to comply with his instructions. RP at 188-90. Ms. Timbers said Ms. Arnhold
"was putting up a little fight." RP at 205. Officer Sheehan observed Ms. Arnhold
"struggling, resisting, basically trying to pull away from Officer Hartnett." RP at 214.
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No. 31381-6-II1
State v. Arnhold
Here again, there was sufficient evidence' from which the jury could infer Ms. Arnhold's
intent to resist arrest.
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined that 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.
WE CONCUR:
Brown, 1.
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