MADSEN, C.J.
¶ 1 In his personal restraint petition (PRP), Raymond Martinez challenges his conviction for first degree burglary, contending that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was armed with a deadly weapon within the meaning of the applicable statute. The Court of Appeals dismissed the petition on procedural grounds without reaching the merits. We hold that this petition is properly before the court and that Mr. Martinez's first degree burglary conviction rested on insufficient evidence. Accordingly, we reverse the Court of Appeals and vacate Mr. Martinez's conviction.
¶ 2 In the early hours of the morning of February 17, 2004, a burglar alarm at an uninhabited farm shop in rural Grant County alerted law enforcement officers of a potential break-in. Deputy Joseph Wester of the Grant County Sheriff's office arrived on the scene about 5 or 10 minutes later. He parked his marked patrol car in front of the shop, shined his headlights and spotlights in the direction of the shop, and noticed that the door of the shop had been forced open. He could hear someone moving about inside, and he immediately alerted another officer by radio that the door had been forced open. At that time, Mr. Martinez opened the door and stepped out of the building. The deputy, who was in full uniform, shined his flashlight on Mr. Martinez, drew his gun, and commanded Mr. Martinez to stop. Mr. Martinez fled immediately. Deputy Wester began chasing Mr. Martinez and was able to catch up to him when Mr. Martinez ran into a barbed wire fence, fell, did a somersault, and then continued running.
¶ 3 Once Deputy Wester caught up to the defendant, he "tackled him to the ground." 1 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 62. After handcuffing the defendant, Deputy Wester patted him down and noticed an empty knife sheath on his belt. When Deputy Wester inquired about the missing knife, Mr. Martinez said that it "should be in the sheath and that it must have fallen out while he was running." Id. at 65. He provided no further explanation. Later, law enforcement officers retraced the path on which the chase had occurred and located a knife in the mud, about 15 feet from the farm shop. Mr. Martinez identified the knife as his own. The knife had a fixed blade and was about three-and-a-half to four inches long.
¶ 4 Mr. Martinez was charged by amended information with burglary in the first degree, theft in the first degree, malicious mischief in the third degree, obstructing a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and possessing stolen property in the first degree. He pleaded not guilty on all six counts.
¶ 5 At trial, the knife and sheath at issue were admitted into evidence, but none of the witnesses provided a verbal description of
¶ 6 In closing, the State argued:
2 VRP at 244-45. The defense, in response, argued that the knife was not a deadly weapon "under the circumstances in which it [was] used, attempted to be used, or threatened to be used." Id. at 250.
¶ 7 The jury found Mr. Martinez guilty of burglary in the first degree, among other crimes.
Id. at *3 (citations omitted).
¶ 8 On March 7, 2007, Mr. Martinez filed a PRP in the Court of Appeals, Division Three, seeking reversal of his first degree burglary conviction on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. In a letter to the Court of Appeals accompanying his petition, Mr. Martinez also argued that the State's first degree burglary charges were unwarranted because he had neither used nor threatened to use his knife during the alleged burglary. After the court requested briefing, Mr. Martinez filed a pro se brief, in which he abandoned his argument as to the use or threatened use of the knife. The Court of Appeals dismissed that petition on August 1, 2007, without addressing Mr. Martinez's argument that he had neither used nor threatened to use his knife. Order Dismissing Pers. Restraint Pet., In re Pers. Restraint of Martinez, No. 25942-1-III (Aug. 1, 2007).
¶ 9 On March 13, 2009, Mr. Martinez filed a CrR 7.8 motion for relief from judgment in which he argued that "[t]he Trial Court's failure to properly define deadly weapon in 1st degree burglary violated RCW 9A.04.110(6), and XIV Amendment of the United States Constitution." Mot. for Relief from J. and Order Under CrR Rule 7.8 (Pet'r's Suppl. Br. at App. B) at 2. Pursuant to CrR 7.8(c)(2), the superior court transferred
¶ 10 On May 13, 2009, Division Three dismissed Mr. Martinez's March 13 petition as both untimely and successive. Order Dismissing Pers. Restraint Pet., In re Pers. Restraint of Martinez, No. 27949-9-III, at *3 (May 13, 2009). The Court of Appeals found that this petition was untimely because it was filed more than a year after the certificate of finality on the first petition, the judgment and sentence were valid, and Mr. Martinez did not raise any of the statutory exceptions to the one-year bar listed in RCW 10.73.100. Id. at *2. The court further held that it lacked jurisdiction to consider the petition under RCW 10.73.140 because Mr. Martinez had not shown good cause for failing to raise his claims in a prior petition. Id. at *2-3. Consequently, it dismissed Mr. Martinez's petition without reaching the merits. Id. at *3.
¶ 11 Still acting pro se, Mr. Martinez sought review of the order dismissing his second PRP.
¶ 12 RCW 10.73.090 imposes a general bar on PRPs filed more than one year after a judgment becomes final, where a judgment is valid on its face and rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction. However, under RCW 10.73.100(4), the one-year bar does not apply where "[t]he defendant pled not guilty and the evidence introduced at trial was insufficient to support the conviction."
¶ 13 In addition to holding that Mr. Martinez's petition was untimely, the Court of Appeals held that it lacked jurisdiction under RCW 10.73.140. Specifically, the court found that Mr. Martinez had not raised the deadly weapon challenge in his prior petition and lacked good cause for failing to do so. Order Dismissing Pers. Restraint Pet., No. 27949-9-III, supra, at *2-3.
¶ 14 When the Court of Appeals determines that its review is barred under RCW 10.73.140 but that RAP 16.4(d) might allow this court to entertain the petition, the proper practice is to transfer the petition to this court, where RCW 10.73.140 does not apply. In re Pers. Restraint of Johnson, 131 Wn.2d 558, 566, 933 P.2d 1019 (1997); In re Restraint of Perkins, 143 Wn.2d 261, 266, 19 P.3d 1027 (2001); see also RCW 2.06.030 ("No case, appeal or petition for a writ filed in the supreme court or the court shall be dismissed for the reason that it was not filed in the proper court, but it shall be transferred to the proper court.").
¶ 15 Under RAP 16.4(d), "[n]o more than one petition for similar relief on behalf of the same petition will be entertained without good cause shown." By its terms, RAP 16.4 applies with equal force in this court, unlike RCW 10.73.140, which applies only to the Court of Appeals. "A successive petition seeks `similar relief' if it raises matters which have been `previously heard and determined' on the merits or `if there has been an abuse of the writ or motion remedy.'" In re Pers. Restraint of Jeffries, 114 Wn.2d 485, 488, 789 P.2d 731 (1990) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint of Haverty, 101 Wn.2d 498, 503, 681 P.2d 835 (1984)).
¶ 16 In dismissing Mr. Martinez's first petition, the Court of Appeals did not address
¶ 17 When a petitioner is represented by counsel throughout the entirety of postconviction proceedings, it is an abuse of the writ to raise a new issue that could have been raised in an earlier petition. Greening, 141 Wash.2d at 700-01, 9 P.3d 206. Here, both petitions at issue were filed on a pro se basis, and consequently, the abuse of the writ doctrine does not apply.
¶ 18 Because the instant petition did not seek "similar relief" within the meaning of RAP 16.4(d), and because it was not an abuse of the writ, RAP 16.4(d) does not bar Mr. Martinez's collateral attack. See Jeffries, 114 Wash.2d at 488, 789 P.2d 731. Thus, we hold that Mr. Martinez's petition is properly before this court.
¶ 19 Next, we must determine whether Mr. Martinez is entitled to relief. To obtain collateral relief by means of a personal restraint petition, a petitioner must demonstrate unlawful restraint. RAP 16.4(a). In addition, where an alleged error is constitutional in nature, a petitioner must establish not only constitutional error but also "actual and substantial prejudice." Haverty, 101 Wash.2d at 504, 681 P.2d 835.
¶ 20 "A petitioner is under `restraint' if the petitioner has limited freedom because of a court decision in a civil or criminal proceeding, the petitioner is subject to imminent confinement, or the petitioner is under some other disability resulting from a judgment or sentence in a criminal case." RAP 16.4(b). While Mr. Martinez appears to have completed his sentence for first degree burglary,
¶ 21 Mr. Martinez contends that his restraint is unlawful because his conviction rests on insufficient evidence. A conviction based on insufficient evidence contravenes the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and thus results in unlawful restraint. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 316, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); RAP 16.4(c)(2).
¶ 22 The standard for determining whether a conviction rests on insufficient evidence is "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216, 221, 616 P.2d 628 (1980) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781). "A claim of insufficiency admits the truth of the State's evidence and all inferences that reasonably can be drawn therefrom." State v. Walton, 64 Wn.App. 410, 415, 824 P.2d 533 (1992). This standard is a deferential one, and questions of credibility, persuasiveness, and conflicting testimony must be left to the jury. Id. at 415-16, 824 P.2d 533.
RCW 9A.04.110(6) (emphasis added).
¶ 24 In construing a statute, we must attempt to discern and give effect to legislative intent. Waste Mgmt. of Seattle, Inc. v. Utils. & Trans. Comm'n, 123 Wn.2d 621, 629, 869 P.2d 1034 (2001). Where the language of a statute is unambiguous, we discern legislative intent from the statutory text alone and give effect to the plain meaning. Id. Where a statute contains multiple provisions, we interpret the statute so as to assign meaning to each provision. State v. Merritt, 91 Wn.App. 969, 973, 961 P.2d 958 (1998).
¶ 25 The language of RCW 9A.04.110(6) is unambiguous. Under the plain meaning of this statute, mere possession is insufficient to render "deadly" a dangerous weapon other than a firearm or explosive. To interpret the statute otherwise would eliminate the distinction between deadly weapons per se (firearms and explosives) and deadly weapons in fact (other weapons). Likewise, it would render meaningless the provision as to the circumstances of use, attempted use, or threatened use.
¶ 26 Thus, we hold that RCW 9A.04.110(6) requires more than mere possession where the weapon in question is neither a firearm nor an explosive. In accordance with the plain meaning of this statute, unless a dangerous weapon falls within the narrow category for deadly weapons per se, its status rests on the manner in which it is used, attempted to be used, or threatened to be used. RCW 9A.04.110(6).
¶ 27 While this court has not addressed the definition of deadly weapons under RCW 9A.04.110(6), the Court of Appeals has addressed this subject at length. In State v.
¶ 28 Conversely, State v. Hall, 46 Wn.App. 689, 732 P.2d 524 (1987), involved deadly weapons per se, namely firearms taken in the course of a burglary. Because the firearm was a deadly weapon per se, Division Three reasoned that "no analysis of willingness or present ability to use a firearm as a deadly weapon" was necessary under RCW 9A.04.110(6). Id. at 695, 732 P.2d 524; see also State v. Speece, 56 Wn.App. 412, 416, 783 P.2d 1108 (1989) (no inquiry into willingness or present ability to use weapon is necessary for deadly weapon per se); State v. Faille, 53 Wn.App. 111, 766 P.2d 478 (1988) (sufficient evidence to sustain first degree burglary conviction where defendant was in possession of unloaded firearms but did not intend to use them).
¶ 29 In State v. Skenandore, 99 Wn.App. 494, 496, 994 P.2d 291 (2000), defendant was convicted of second degree assault (assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict great bodily harm) after attacking a corrections officer with a homemade spear. There, Division Two looked to the circumstances of the weapon's use to determine whether it was a deadly weapon within the meaning of RCW 9A.04.110(6). Id. at 499, 994 P.2d 291. It found that while the spear could have taken out the corrections officer's eye under different circumstances, it did not have the capacity to cause death or substantial bodily harm under the circumstances in which it was actually used because Skenandore could not reach the officer's eye from where he was standing. Id. at 500, 994 P.2d 291. Thus, the court agreed with Skenandore that the evidence was insufficient to prove he was armed with a deadly weapon within the meaning of RCW 9A.04.110(6). Id. at 501, 994 P.2d 291.
¶ 30 State v. Shilling, 77 Wn.App. 166, 169, 889 P.2d 948 (1995), involved a bar fight, in which the defendant hit the victim with a glass. Finding that the glass was not a deadly weapon per se, Division One looked to the circumstances of its use. Id. at 171, 889 P.2d 948. The court held that under RCW 9A.04.110(6), the circumstances of use include "`the intent and present ability of the user, the degree of force, the part of the body to which it was applied and the physical injuries inflicted.'" Id. (quoting State v. Sorenson, 6 Wn.App. 269, 273, 492 P.2d 233 (1972)). Applying that standard, it found sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon.
¶ 32 Even when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence in this case cannot support such a finding. No one saw Mr. Martinez with the knife, and he manifested no intent to use it. Furthermore, no one saw Mr. Martinez reach for the knife at any time after he was apprehended. Cf. Gotcher, 52 Wash.App. at 356, 759 P.2d 1216 (sufficient evidence of intent to use knife where knife was located in right pocket and defendant was seen reaching for right pocket during struggle with law enforcement officers). Indeed, when Mr. Martinez was apprehended, he did not reach for his knife, but rather, he fled. By one account, he raised his hands before fleeing, suggesting that he was not holding his knife at that time.
¶ 33 Though Mr. Martinez struggled when Deputy Wester tackled him to the ground, the knife was found along the path of the chase about 15 feet from the farm shop, suggesting that Mr. Martinez did not have access to the knife during the scuffle with Deputy Wester. Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the only evidence that Mr. Martinez attempted to use the knife was the unfastened sheath. This evidence is insufficient to lead a rational fact finder to find intent to use the weapon beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 34 Because Mr. Martinez's first degree burglary conviction rested on insufficient evidence, his conviction violates due process. Thus, he is unlawfully restrained. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 316, 99 S.Ct. 2781 (conviction based on insufficient evidence implicates due process clause of Fourteenth Amendment).
¶ 35 We hold that Mr. Martinez's petition is not untimely nor is it barred by the rules governing successive petitions. Accordingly it is properly before this court. Because the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain a first degree burglary conviction, we vacate Mr. Martinez's first degree burglary conviction and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
WE CONCUR: CHARLES W. JOHNSON, GERRY L. ALEXANDER, TOM CHAMBERS, SUSAN OWENS, MARY E. FAIRHURST, JAMES M. JOHNSON, DEBRA L. STEPHENS, and CHARLES K. WIGGINS, Justices.
RCW 9.95.040(2). This court is not compelled to interpret RCW 9A.04.110(6) in a manner consistent with RCW 9.95.040(2), which treats knives with blades exceeding three inches as deadly weapons per se. Had the legislature intended such knives to function as deadly weapons per se for the purpose of differentiating between degrees of offenses, it could have drafted RCW 9A.04.110(6) in a way that mirrored RCW 9.95.040(2). Moreover, because enhancing a sentence under RCW 9.95.040 is fundamentally different from elevating a conviction from second degree burglary (a Class B felony) to first degree burglary (a Class A felony), it is not surprising that the standard for finding an individual armed with a deadly weapon under RCW 9.95.040(2) is different from that under RCW 9A.04.110(6).