State Of Washington, Respondent V. Gerald Yanac, Appellant (Majority)

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COURT OF` 2015 FEB 18 An 9: 2D Tf TONS B IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION II No. 45228 -6 -II STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION GERALD LEWIS YANAC, Appellant. Gerald Yanac appeals his bench trial conviction for first degree JOHANSON, C. J. — robbery. Yanac Yanac argues, and we agree, that insufficient evidence supports the conclusion that made an implied threat of immediate force. Accordingly, we reverse his first degree robbery conviction, dismiss it with prejudice, and remand for further proceedings. FACTS In August 2012, Yanac sunglasses and a at 116. He Attempting 1 The facts undisputed baseball cap put a plastic bag are undisputed. facts. "). and appeared on to clarify Yanac' entered a s Br. the and to be " counter at request, of bank approached fidgety" the teller' the bank teller.' and " suspicious." s station and stated, " the bank teller inquired, " Appellant at Yanac wore Clerk' s Papers ( CP) Money." CP at 116. Money ?" and he responded, 6 ( " Here, the trial court' s findings were based on No. 45228 -6 -II Money." CP at 116. She put one and five dollar bills into the bag. When the bank teller stopped giving him money, Yanac finally stating, " That' stated, " s all." CP More." at CP at 116. She put more money into Yanac' s bag until 116. Yanac turned, left the bank, and was arrested about two hours later. The State charged Yanac with possession of a stolen vehicle, first degree robbery, and first degree theft. After a bench trial on stipulated facts, the trial court convicted Yanac of theft of a motor vehicle and first degree robbery and dismissed the first degree theft charge. In addition to the facts stated above, the trial court found that Yanac had " leaned into [the bank teller]' s personal space" with the plastic bag, that the bank teller was " nervous and intimidated by [Yanac' s] repeated demands for money," and that the bank teller felt that " she needed to comply to avoid harm to herself or others, and that it was also bank policy to comply with demands for money for the same reasons." CP at 116. Based on its findings of fact, the court concluded, in relevant part, " That Yanac] impliedly threatened the immediate use of force through his actions and appearance while demanding the money from [ the bank teller]' s person inside the Key Bank branch on Bay Street in Port Orchard, WA on August 15, 2012." CP at 117. Yanac appeals his first degree robbery conviction. ANALYSIS I. INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF AN IMPLIED THREAT Yanac argues that insufficient evidence supports his conviction for first degree robbery. Specifically, he argues that the trial court' s findings of fact do not support its conclusion that Yanac made an implied threat not support the of conclusion immediate force. We agree and hold that the trial court' s findings do that Yanac impliedly threatened the immediate use of force. No. 45228 -6 -II A. STANDARD OF REVIEW AND RULES OF LAW When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence after a bench trial, our review is limited to determining whether substantial evidence supports the trial court' s findings of fact and whether those findings support its conclusions of law. State v. Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102, 10506, 330 P. 3d 182 ( 2014). Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on appeal. Homan, 181 Wn.2d at 106. We review the trial court' s conclusions of law de novo. Homan, 181 Wn.2d at 106. When arguing insufficient evidence on appeal, the defendant admits the truth of the State' s evidence and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from it. Homan, 181 Wn.2d at 106 ( citing State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P. 2d 1068 ( 1992)). A defendant commits " robbery" when he unlawfully takes personal property from the person of another or in his or her presence against his or her will by the use or threatened use of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury to that person or his or her property or the person or property of anyone. Such force or fear must be used to obtain or retain possession of the property, or to prevent or overcome resistance to the taking; in either of which cases the degree of force is immaterial. RCW 9A.56. 190 ( emphasis added). A robbery conviction may be supported by evidence of any threat that induces the owner to part with his property. State v. Handburgh, 119 Wn.2d 284, 293, 830 P. 2d 641 ( 1992). to cause bodily injury, damage 9A.04. 110( 28)( a) review The statutory definition of a " threat" includes both a direct or indirect intent -(c); to property, or physical confinement or restraint. RCW State v. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. 619, 624 -26, 191 P. 3d 99 ( 2008), denied, 165 Wn.2d 1037 ( 2009). We apply an objective test and ask " whether an ordinary person in the victim' s position could reasonably infer a threat of bodily harm from the defendant' s acts." State v. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d 875, 884, 329 P. 3d 888 ( 2014). 3 No. 45228 -6 -II B. THE IMPLIED THREAT Because Yanac does not challenge the trial court' s findings of fact, they are verities on appeal. Homan, 181 Wn.2d whether, as a matter of immediate use of In State v. at 106. We, therefore, review the trial court' s findings to determine law, they support the conclusion that Yanac " force through his actions and appearance." Farnsworth, Wn. impliedly threatened the CP at 117. 340 P. 3d 890, 892 -93 ( 2014), we addressed the App. , same issue as in this casethe sufficiency of the evidence to establish an implied threat to a bank teller during an alleged robbery. We held that the defendant' s actions did not amount to an implied threat because he " simply handed over a note instructing the teller to ` put the money in the bag' and] did not insinuate that he would take further action if the teller did not comply with the note' s instructions." Farnsworth, 340 P. 3d at 894. We also rejected the argument that the teller' s reaction is sufficient to justify finding an implicit threat of force. Farnsworth, 340 P. 3d 894. Here, walked said into the bank; three court faced we are words, " with acted " virtually identical facts. following actions: he fidgety "; moved the plastic bag into the bank teller' s personal space; Money," " Money," characterized Yanac took the the three words and " More "; and then left the bank. that Yanac spoke as " CP at 116. The trial demands" for money. CP at 118. Regarding Yanac' s appearance, the trial court found that he appeared suspicious and fidgety, that he was not a local customer of the bank, and that he was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. In addition, the trial court relied on the fact that the bank teller " felt she needed to comply to avoid harm to herself or others." CP at 116. To the extent the trial court relied on the bank teller' s subjective reaction to Yanac' s conduct, this was error. The appropriate inquiry is whether an ordinary person in the bank teller' s position could reasonably infer a threat of bodily harm from 4 No. 45228 -6 -II Yanac' Witherspoon, 180 Wn. 2d s acts. at 884. On these facts, there was no suggestion inferred either from Yanac' s conduct or his words that he threatened to use immediate force against the bank teller in order to his demands for money. enforce An ordinary person in the bank teller' s position, therefore, could not reasonably infer a threat of bodily harm from Yanac' s words and. actions. We conclude that insufficient evidence supports this element of robbery. C. THE STATE' S ARGUMENT The State relies on two cases to support its argument that there is sufficient evidence in this case: Shcherenkov and State v. denied, 135 Wn.2d 1002 ( 1998). Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. 546, 966 P. 2d 905 ( 1997), review But Shcherenkov is legally and factually distinguishable and we believe that the Collinsworth court' s interpretation of an implied threat of force does not give effect to all words in the robbery statute, RCW 9A.56. 190. In Shcherenkov, the primary issue was whether a jury instruction that permitted the jury to find the threat 624 26. element of robbery based on an implied threat was appropriate. 146 Wn. App. at We held that an implied threat of force is sufficient to support a robbery conviction. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 626. In this appeal, however, that question is not in dispute. Shcherenkov is also factually distinguishable from this case. Shcherenkov was charged with four separate robberies, and we considered whether the facts were sufficient to find the necessary threat of immediate force or violence. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 626 -27. During the first three is a robberies, robbery. "' note said, "' the defendant passed a note to the bank tellers that stated explicitly, ' This Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 622 -23. During the fourth robbery, Shcherenkov' s Do not make Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. any at sudden 623. movements or actions. I will be watching you.'" During the fourth robbery, Shcherenkov also kept his hands 5 No. 45228 -6 -II in his pockets. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 623. We held that it was reasonable for the bank tellers to infer a threat of violence from the notes that stated explicitly that Shcherenkov was robbing them. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 628 -29. It was also reasonable for the teller in the fourth robbery to suspect that Shcherenkov had a gun because his hands were in his pockets and to infer threat of violence a from his statement that he would " be watching." Shcherenkov, 146 Wn. App. at 629. Yanac, in contrast, merely words: " Money," " Money," and " appeared More." to be " suspicious" and " fidgety" and spoke three CP at 116. Yanac' s conduct is factually distinguishable from Shcherenkov' s conduct and is much more like the conduct in Farnsworth. In Collinsworth, Division One of this court announced a broad rule for interpreting implied Yanac argues that under Collinsworth, any demand for money in a bank would be a threats. robbery. The. State argues that Collinsworth should guide this court' s decision in this case. We decline to follow Collinsworth here. Collinsworth involved five robberies and one attempted robbery, each with slightly . different facts. 90 Wn. App. at 548 -50. In one case, the defendant walked into a bank and asked for "' twenties, fifties, The teller dye asked pack, ' case, and hundreds ' in if Collinsworth a "` firm, direct ' was serious, tone. Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at 550. Collinsworth replied, "` [Y] es' ... [ d] on' t give me a put the cash in his bag, and walked out. Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at 550. In another Collinsworth approached Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at the teller and said, "` Give me all your fifties and hundreds.' 549. Because the teller did not understand, Collinsworth repeated his " demand" and the teller complied. Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at 549. 6 No. 45228 -6 -II The Collinsworth court recognized that there was no Washington case law that provided guidance in determining defendant does therefore, what is " necessary to establish robbery in circumstances where the not utilize overt physical or verbal threats." 90 Wn. App. at 552. The court, decided to draw an analogy to federal case law interpreting the definition of intimidation," an element of federal bank robbery. Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at 552 -53. In United States v. Bingham, 628 F. 2d 548 ( 9th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1092 1981), the Ninth Circuit defined " intimidation" as " the willful taking in such a way as would place an ordinary 1992), person in fear of bodily harm." In United States v. Lucas, 963 F.2d 243, 244 ( 9th Cir. the defendant entered a bank, put a bag on the counter, and passed the teller a note that said, Give me all your Put it in the money, put all your money in the bag. "' Lucas also told the teller verbally, bag. "' Lucas, 963 F. 2d at 244. The Ninth Circuit held that the defendant' s written and oral demands, in addition to the teller' s testimony that she was terrified, was sufficient to find intimidation. Lucas, 963 F.2d at 248. The federal bank robbery statute at issue in Bingham and Lucas requires proof of "force and violence" Washington' applies s or " intimidation." first degree robbery only to bank robberies. 18 U. S. C. § statute, 2113( a). This statute is distinguishable from RCW 9A. 56. 200, in two ways. First, the federal law Our statute applies to robberies in many different contexts. Second, the element of "intimidation" is not the same as Washington' s " implied threat" element. Intimidation is defined as " the willful taking in such a way as would place an ordinary person in fear of bodily harm." Bingham, 628 F. 2d at 548. But Washington' s first degree robbery statute requires us to focus on the defendant' s threatening acts separate from the taking of money or property and not the manner of the taking itself. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d at 884. The element of 7 No. 45228 -6 -II a defendant' s " threat," expressed or implied, is missing from the federal bank robbery statute. Thus, we do not find the federal cases persuasive. Division One affirmed each of Collinsworth' s convictions and held that i]n each incident, Collinsworth made a clear, concise, and unequivocal demand for money. He also either reiterated his demand or told the teller not to include " bait" money or " dye packs," thereby underscoring the seriousness of his intent. No matter how calmly expressed, an unequivocal demand for the immediate surrender of the bank' s money, unsupported by even the pretext of any lawful entitlement to with the implicit threat to use force. " Any force or threat, no matter how slight, which induces an owner to part with his property is sufficient to the funds, is fraught sustain a robbery conviction." Collinsworth, 90 Wn. App. at 553 -54 ( quoting State v. Ammlung, 31 Wn. App. 696, 704, 644 P. 2d 717 ( 1982)). Based on this reasoning, any demand for money from a bank to which a defendant has no legal right is an implicit threat of force and, therefore, a robbery. However, Division One' s broad interpretation of an implicit threat does not give meaningful effect to all of the words in the robbery statute, RCW 9A.56. 190, and blurs the line between theft and robbery. Where possible, we give effect to all words in a statute. State v. Roggenkamp, 153 Wn.2d 614, 624 -25, 106 P. 3d 196 ( 2005). First degree robbery requires the State to prove ( 1) the taking of "personal property from the person of another" and ( 2) that the taking was done " by the use or threatened use of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury to that person." RCW . 9A.56. 190. First degree theft, in contrast, requires the State to prove only that the defendant committed theft of "[ p] roperty of any value ... taken from the person of another." RCW 9A.56. 030( 1)( b). The plain language of the first degree theft and first degree robbery statutes show that the legislature recognized that there are circumstances where a defendant could take personal property from the person of another without a threat of immediate force, violence, or fear of injury. As the language of the first degree theft statute confirms, the legislature did not intend to punish 8 No. 45228 -6 -II defendants for first degree robbery who take property from another without a direct or implied threat but intend to taking by force nature of the or punish threat crime of of them instead for first degree theft. force and not just the taking. robbery includes the threat Robbery is intended to punish the Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d at 888 ( "` The of violence against another person. "' ( quoting State v. Rivers, 129 Wn.2d 697, 713, 921 P. 2d 495 ( 1996))). But if any demand for money in a bank establishes a threat of violence, the distinction between robbery and first degree theft is blurred considerably and the clear, statutory requirement that the State prove that a threat occurred becomes meaningless. In Farnsworth, we agreed that a robbery conviction based on its facts would have blurred the lines between theft and robbery and that if the legislature wanted "to define all thefts from financial institutions as robberies, it may act accordingly." 340 P. 3d at 895 n.7. The legislature has not acted to do this. Yanac entered the bank, looked suspicious and fidgety, put a bag on the counter in front of the bank teller, and " demanded" money by saying, " Money," " Money," and " More." CP at 116. In order to find a threat of immediate force here, the trial court must have inferred that Yanac' s demand implied that if the bank teller did not comply, immediate force would be the consequence. Like in Farnsworth, however, this inference is simply not reasonable where Yanac' s actions did not insinuate any threat of violence. Even making all reasonable inferences from this evidence in the State' s favor, this evidence is insufficient to support a conclusion that Yanac made an implied threat of immediate force. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court' s findings do not support the conclusion that Yanac made an implied threat of immediate force because an ordinary person in the bank teller' s position could not have reasonably inferred such a threat from Yanac' s words or conduct. Where 9 No. 45228 -6 -II there is insufficient evidence as a matter of law to support a conviction, Yanac is entitled to dismissal with prejudice of his first degree robbery conviction. State v. Crediford, 130 Wn.2d 747, 761, 927 P. 2d 1129 ( 1996). We reverse his first degree robbery conviction, dismiss it with prejudice, and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion. A majority of the panel having deteimuned that this, opinion will not be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2. 06. 040, it is so ordered. We concur: 10

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