STATE v BUSH

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No. 81-315 I N THE SUPREME COURT O T E STATE O MONTANA F H F 1981 STATE O M N A A F O T N , P l a i n t i f f and Respondent, VS E W R G. D AD . BUSH, Defendant and A p p e l l a n t . Appeal from: D i s t r i c t Court of t h e Eleventh J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , I n and f o r t h e County o f F l a t h e a d Honorable R o b e r t C. S y k e s , J u d g e p r e s i d i n g . Counsel o f Record: For Appellant: S h e r l o c k and N a r d i , K a l i s p e l l , Montana P a t r i c k S h e r l o c k a r g u e d , K a l i s p e l l , Montana F o r Respondent: Hon. F i k e G r e e l y , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , H e l e n a , Montana Allen Chronister argued, A s s i s t a n t Attorney General, H e l e n a , Montana Ted 0 . Lympus, County A t t o r n e y , K a l i s p e l l , Montana Submitted: ~ Filed: ~ ~: O c t o b e r 22, 1 9 8 1 i NOV 2 d 5 1981 d ~ C h i e f J u s t i c e F r a n k I . Haswell d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n of t h e Court. Mr. Edward G. Bush a p p e a l s from h i s c o n v i c t i o n and f i v e - y e a r s e n t e n c e f o r t h e o f f e n s e of s o l i c i t a t i o n to p o s s e s s d a n g e r o u s drugs. T r i a l was h e l d o n March 2 5 , 1 9 8 1 , b e f o r e t h e D i s t r i c t The a p p e a l is b a s e d upon a s t i p u l a t i o n of C o u r t , F l a t h e a d County. f a c t s b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s and a p a r t i a l t r a n s c r i p t c o n t a i n i n g t h e t e s t i m o n y o f K a t h l e e n Kohse , the complaining witness. Edward Bush i n S e p t e m b e r of 1 9 8 0 w e n t to C a r m e n ' s Lounge i n K a l i s p e l l , M o n t a n a , where he met K a t h l e e n Kohse who was a b a r tender a t the lounge. Bush t o l d Kohse t h a t h e was a f i l m m a k e r who p h o t o g r a p h e d a n i m a l s , and t h a t he had a j o b f o r someone a s a film courier. Bush a p p a r e n t l y a c t i v e l y r e c r u i t e d K a t h l e e n Kohse f o r t h e j o b , as Kohse t e s t i f i e d he came t o t h e l o u n g e s e v e r a l t i m e s and d i s c u s s e d i t . Kohse a l s o r e c e i v e d s e v e r a l phone c a l l s a n d a l e t t e r w i t h a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s from a woman i n C a l i f o r n i a who was p u r p o r t e d l y B u s h ' s s e c r e t a r y . Kohse was i n f o r m e d i n O c t o b e r t h a t s h e was h i r e d f o r t h e p o s i t i o n o f f i l m c o u r i e r , and s h e t h e n r e s i g n e d from h e r j o b a t Carmen's. She was t o l d t o s e n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m s e v e n t h o u g h s h e was a l r e a d y h i r e d b e c a u s e t h e company n e e d e d them f o r t h e i r files. B u s h ' s s e c r e t a r y t o l d Kohse t h e r e was a t i c k e t to L o s Angeles waiting f o r h e r a t t h e K a l i s p e l l A i r p o r t . Kohse u s e d t h e t i c k e t , f l e w t o L o s A n g e l e s and m e t Bush a t t h e Los Angeles A i r p o r t . She was t h e n t o l d by Bush t h a t s h e w a s n o t g o i n g t o be a f i l m c o u r i e r b u t r a t h e r a p h o t o g r a p h e r . Bush knew t h a t Kohse had no p r e v i o u s p h o t o g r a p h y e x p e r i e n c e , and h e s p e n t s e v e r a l h o u r s s h o w i n g h e r how t o o p e r a t e t h e cameras s h e was g i v e n t o u s e . She w a s t o l d s h e w a s t o go t o L i m a , P e r u , to t a k e p i c t u r e s a t t h e zoo and t o l e a r n how to be a p h o t o g r a p h e r . Bush g a v e h e r t h r e e c a m e r a s , a n aluminum camera case and $ 1 , 2 0 0 . P a r t o f t h e money was used t o buy h e r t i c k e t to P e r u . I n L i m a , Kohse met a p e r s o n named Dan who t o o k h e r t o t h e z o o , l e f t h e r t h e r e and t o o k t h e c a m e r a case. She t o o k p i c t u r e s a t t h e zoo f o r f o u r h o u r s a l t h o u g h Dan had t o l d h e r h e would r e t u r n i n one hour. A f t e r s t a y i n g i n L i m a f o r f o u r d a y s s h e was t o l d to r e t u r n t o t h e S t a t e s . When s h e a r r i v e d Los A n g e l e s and w e n t t h r o u g h c u s t o m s s h e was a r r e s t e d f o r p o s s e s s i o n of c o c a i n e which was h i d d e n i n a comp a r t m e n t i n t h e l i n i n g o f t h e camera case. Kohse t e s t i f i e d s h e h a d n o t p l a c e d t h e c o c a i n e t h e r e , had no knowledge o f it b e i n g t h e r e and d i d n o t see a n y o n e p u t i t t h e r e . After her arrest she h a d no c o n t a c t w i t h Bush or h i s a s s o c i a t e s . Bush was c h a r g e d w i t h s o l i c i t a t i o n of Kohse to p o s s e s s d a n g e r o u s d r u g s , o r i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s o l i c i t a t i o n to p o s s e s s d a n g e r o u s d r u g s w i t h i n t e n t to s e l l , and he was c o n v i c t e d o f t h e former . A p p e l l a n t raises t h e following i s s u e s : 1) W h e t h e r t h e S t a t e o f Montana h a s j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h i s case. 2 ) W h e t h e r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s t a t e d a n o f f e n s e ; and w h e t h e r t h e s t a t u t e is u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y v a g u e , i n d e f i n i t e , and v i o l a t i v e of d e f e n d a n t ' s due p r o c e s s r i g h t s . 3 ) W h e t h e r i n Montana t h e c r i m e o f s o l i c i t a t i o n is c o m p l e t e e v e n t h o u g h t h e p e r s o n s o l i c i t e d is unaware o f t h e s o l i c i t o r l s a c t i o n s and e f f o r t s . A p p e l l a n t f i r s t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t s h o u l d have g r a n t e d h i s motion to d i s m i s s f o r l a c k o f j u r i s d i c t i o n . He a r g u e s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t s h o u l d h a v e e x c l u d e d as i r r e l e v a n t a l l e v i d e n c e o f e v e n t s o c c u r r i n g o u t s i d e o f Montana. If this were d o n e , t h e r e m a i n i n g e v i d e n c e would show o n l y t h a t a p p e l l a n t h i r e d Kohse f o r a j o b i n L o s A n g e l e s , and t h i s would be i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r t h e case i n Montana u n d e r s e c t i o n 46-2-1011 MCA. W e f i n d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e of t h e e v e n t s o c c u r r i n g o u t s i d e t h e S t a t e o f Montana was r e l e v a n t to show t h e m e n t a l s t a t e or purpose of the defendant. The t r i a l c o u r t had j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e case p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 46-2-101( 1)( c ) , MCA, w h i c h p r o v i d e s i n part: " ( 1 ) A p e r s o n is s u b j e c t t o p r o s e c u t i o n i n t h i s s t a t e f o r a n o f f e n s e w h i c h he commits w h i l e e i t h e r w i t h i n o r o u t s i d e t h e s t a t e b y h i s own c o n d u c t or t h a t o f a n o t h e r f o r w h i c h he is l e g a l l y accountable i f : " ( c ) t h e conduct within the state c o n s t i t u t e s a n a t t e m p t , s o l i c i t a t i o n , o r c o n s p i r a c y to c o m m i t i n a n o t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n an o f f e n s e u n d e r t h e l a w s o f t h i s s t a t e and s u c h o t h e r jurisdiction," A p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d u c t w i t h i n Montana c o n s t i t u t e d a s o l i c i t a t i o n to commit i n a n o t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n t h e o f f e n s e o f p o s s e s s i o n of dangerous drugs. The t r i a l c o u r t c o m m i t t e d n o error i n d e n y i n g a p p e l l a n t ' s motion to d i s m i s s f o r l a c k of j u r i s d i c t i o n . The a p p e l l a n t n e x t a r g u e s t h e s t a t u t e d e f i n i n g s o l i c i t a t i o n , s e c t i o n 45-4-101, MCA, is u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y v a g u e H e o b j e c t s s p e c i f i c a l l y to t h e word a n d d e n i e s him d u e p r o c e s s . " f a c i l i t a t e s " i n t h e s t a t u t e , which r e a d s as f o l l o w s : " A p e r s o n c o m m i t s t h e o f f e n s e of s o l i c i t a t i o n w h e n , w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t h a t a n o f f e n s e be c o m m i t t e d , he commands, e n c o u r a g e s , o r f a c i l i tates t h e commission of t h a t o f f e n s e . " Section 4 5 - 4 - 1 0 1 ( 1 ) , MCA. (Emphasis added.) A p p e l l a n t s u b m i t s t h a t t h e word " f a c i l i t a t e s " is too b r o a d and too v a g u e t o e s t a b l i s h a s t a n d a r d and to g i v e f a i r n o t i c e of t h e proscribed conduct. t o be s p e c i f i c e n o u g h to g i v e f a i r A s t a t u t e is r e q u i r e d n o t i c e of the conduct prohibited. It must p r o v i d e s t a n d a r d s f o r law e n f o r c e m e n t p e r s o n n e l so as to p r e v e n t a r b i t r a r y or d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a r r e s t s and t o p r e v e n t t h e c h i l l i n g o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y p r o tected activity. 1 0 4 , 9 2 S.Ct. G r a y n e d v . C i t y of R o c k f o r d ( 1 9 7 2 ) , 4 0 8 u.S. 2 2 9 4 , 33 L.Ed.2d 222. The s t a t u t e m u s t p r o v i d e a m e a n i n g f u l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n be t w e e n c u l p a b l e and i n n o c e n t c o n d u c t S t a t e v. B l i n z l e r ( 1 9 7 9 , Mon t . , 5 9 9 P.2d 3 4 9 , 36 S t . R e p . 1580. The s o u r c e f o r t h e Montana s t a t u t e is t h e I l l i n o i s C r i m i n a l Code, T i t l e 38, § 8-1, which p r o v i d e s : . " A p e r s o n commits s o l i c i t a t i o n when, w i t h i n t e n t t h a t a n o f f e n s e be c o m m i t t e d , he commands, encourages or r e q u e s t s a n o t h e r - c o m m i t t h a t offense." to ( Emphasis added. ) S o l i c i t a t i o n was a common l a w i n c h o a t e o f f e n s e c o m m i t t e d when a p e r s o n r e q u e s t e d , commanded o r i m p o r t u n e d a n o t h e r p e r s o n t o commit a f e l o n y o r s e r i o u s m i s d e m e a n o r . S 713. ( 1 4 t h Ed.) 4 W h a r t o n ' s C r i m i n a l Law The modern s t a t u t e s p r e s e r v i n g s o l i c i t a t i o n as a n o f f e n s e t e n d t o d e f i n e it i n terms close t o t h e common l a w definition. See Wharton's, s u p r a , 717. The Model P e n a l Code d e f i n e s t h e crime as f o l l o w s : "A p e r s o n is g u i l t y o f s o l i c i t a t i o n to c o m m i t a crime i f w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f p r o m o t i n g or f a c i l i t a t i n g i t s c o m m i s s i o n he commands, e n c o u r a g e s o r r e q u e s t s a n o t h e r p e r s o n to engage i n s p e c i f i c c o n d u c t which would c o n s t i t u t e s u c h crime o r a n a t t e m p t t o c o m m i t s u c h crime o r which would e s t a b l i s h h i s c o m p l i c i t y i n i t s c o m m i s s i o n or a t t e m p t e d c o m m i s s i o n .I1 ( E m p h a s i s a d d e d . ) Model P e n a l Code 9 5 . 0 2 ( 1 ) The Montana L e g i s l a t u r e h a s s u b s t i t u t e d t h e term " f a c i l i t a t e s " f o r t h e term " r e q u e s t s , " t h u s e x p a n d i n g t h e s c o p e o f c o n d u c t w h i c h is made c r i m i n a l b y t h e s t a t u t e . The l e g i s l a t u r e h a s t h e power t o c h a n g e t h e common l a w . W e h o l d t h a t t h e s t a t u t e d e f i n i n g t h e o f f e n s e of s o l i c i t a t i o n , s e c t i o n 45-4-101 , MCA, is n o t u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y v a g u e . " F a c i l i t a t e " is a commonly u n d e r s t o o d word. Its d e f i n i - t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o W e b s t e r ' s T h i r d N e w I n t e r n a t i o n a l D i c t i o n a r y is " t o make e a s i e r o r l e s s d i f f i c u l t : impediment ." f r e e from d i f f i c u l t y or I n a l l c a s e s , t h e a c t o r m u s t h a v e t h e p u r p o s e of p r o m o t i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n of a n o f f e n s e . The s t a t u t e is d e f i n i t e and s p e c i f i c enough to g i v e f a i r warning of t h e conduct prohibited. A p p e l l a n t ' s f i n a l c o n t e n t i o n is t h a t t h e crime o f s o l i c i t a t i o n is n o t c o m p l e t e u n l e s s t h e p e r s o n s o l i c i t e d is aware of t h e s o l i c i t o r ' s c r i m i n a l p u r p o s e and scheme. S i n c e Kohse was u n a w a r e t h a t s h e was t o d o a n y t h i n g b u t work f o r a movie company and s i n c e s h e was unaware o f t h e d r u g s , a p p e l l a n t m a i n t a i n s s h e was n o t s o l i c i t e d . A t common l a w t h e u s e o f a n i n n o c e n t a g e n t to a c c o m p l i s h a crime was c o n s i d e r e d a n a t t e m p t b u t n o t a s o l i c i t a t i o n . P e r k i n s o n C r i m i n a l L a w ( 2 d Ed. 1 9 6 9 ) , 587-588. See The common l a w h a s b e e n a f f i r m a t i v e l y c h a n g e d i n some j u r i s d i c t i o n s b y s t a t u t e s w h i c h p r o v i d e t h a t it is no d e f e n s e t o a c h a r g e o f s o l i c i t a t i o n t h a t t h e s o l i c i t e e is unaware o f t h e c r i m i n a l n a t u r e o f t h e cond u c t s o l i c i t e d or o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s p u r p o s e . Ala. S 13A-4-l(d) ( 2 ) ; Ark.Stats.Ann. See e.g. Code of s 4 1 - 7 1 3 ( 2 ) ( d ) ; Del .Code Ann. 1 S 5 2 3 ( a ) . The t h e o r y b e h i n d t h e c h a n g e i s t h a t o n e is no 1 less g u i l t y o f a crime b e c a u s e he e m p l o y s a n i n n o c e n t a g e n t . The Montana s t a t u t e is n o t e x p l i c i t i n t h i s r e g a r d . The l a n g u a g e " f a c i l i t a t e s t h e commission of t h a t o f f e n s e " d o e s n o t i m p l y t h a t t h e p e r s o n s o l i c i t e d m u s t be aware o f t h e c r i m i n a l purpose. A s above n o t e d , t h e Montana l e g i s l a t u r e h a s c h a n g e d t h e common l a w , as is i t s p r e r o g a t i v e , and h a s n o t r e q u i r e d t h a t t h e s o l i c i t e e be aware of t h e c r i m i n a l p u r p o s e o f t h e s o l i c i t o r or o f t h e c r i m i n a l n a t u r e of t h e conduct s o l i c i t e d . To d o s o would d e f e a t t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s t a t u t e which is to p r o t e c t t h e c i t i z e n s o f t h i s s t a t e from v i c t i m i z a t i o n and from e x p o s u r e t o i n d u c e m e n t s t o c o m m i t or j o i n i n t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f crime. The g r a v a m e n o f t h e o f f e n s e o f s o l i c i t a t i o n is t h e i n t e n t o f t h e s o l i c i t o r and n o t t h e knowledge of t h e v i c t i m . Affirm. Chief J u s t i c e

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