The Girlfriend, the Mobile Phone and the “Spying Application”

This post examines an opinion from the Court of Appeals ofWashington:  State v. Novick, 2016 WL 6216209 (2016). The court begins the opinion by explaining that “David Novick appeals his convictions for eight counts of first degree computer trespass and eight counts of recording private communications after he installed a spying application on his girlfriend's mobile phone.”  State v. Novick, supra.

The opinion goes on to explain that

David Novick and Lisa Maunu began dating in December 2013. At the beginning of their relationship, Maunu used an old mobile phone. When Maunu's phone started to malfunction, Novick bought her a new mobile phone on March 11, 2014, and set it up for her.

Unbeknownst to Maunu, Novick had installed an application called Mobile Spy on Maunu's new phone. The application allowed a person to log onto the Mobile Spy website and monitor the phone on which the application was installed. From the Mobile Spy website, a user could access all the information stored on the monitored phone, including text messages, call logs, and e-mails. The versions of Mobile Spy used on Maunu's phone, versions 6.5 and 6.6, also permitted a user to send commands to the phone from a `live control panel’ on the website. Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 416. One such command allowed a user to activate the phone's microphone and recording feature and record audio into a file that could then be downloaded from the website.

In July, the relationship between Novick and Maunu soured, and Maunu noticed that her new phone was acting strangely. The phone would light up periodically, send text messages and emails without her knowledge, and frequently `lock up.’ VRP at 212. About the same time, Maunu became concerned because Novick expressed specific knowledge about Maunu's health conditions, medications, doctors' appointments, and private conversations. Maunu then contacted Kaiser Permanente, where she received her health care and also where Novick worked, because she was concerned Novick was accessing her medical records at his work.

State v. Novick, supra.

Next, the court noted that a

compliance investigator for Kaiser ordered a forensic review of Novick's work computer use. The forensic review was conducted by Robert Monsour. During his investigation, Monsour reviewed the records associated with Novick's password-protected user account. Kaiser computers keep records of every URL visited on an employee's work computer and the date and time of each visit. Monsour found a pattern of Novick accessing websites associated with Mobile Spy from Novick's computer account at Kaiser. In addition to the Mobile Spy websites, Monsour found evidence that Novick had downloaded over 500 audio files from Mobile Spy, searched for GPS (global positioning system) locations, and searched for particular telephone numbers.

The State charged Novick with eight counts of first degree computer trespass and eight counts of recording private communications based on Novick's use of Mobile Spy to record Maunu's conversations on March 30, April 4, June 5, and June 6.

State v. Novick, supra.  In a footnote, the Court of Appeals explained that the first degree computer trespass counts were brought under the “former” Revised Code of Washington § 9A.52.110, which was “repealed by LAWS OF 2016 ch. 164, § 14.” State v. Novick, supra. The court also noted, in another footnote, that the recording private communications charges were brought under Revised Code of Washington § 9.73.030. State v. Novick, supra.

The opinion goes on to explain that

[d]uring trial, Monsour testified about his investigation into Novick's computer records. To understand how Mobile Spy operated, Monsour read all of the available documentation, focusing on versions 6.5 and 6.6—the versions of Mobile Spy available on the dates in question.  Monsour also explored an available demo feature of version 7.01 of the program. Version 7.01 of Mobile Spy removed the surround recording feature, among other slight variations.

According to the user guides Monsour read, in order to begin a recording through Mobile Spy, a user had to go to a `live control panel’ on their website and affirmatively send a command through the control panel to the monitored phone. Monsour described the process as similar to `pushing a record button on a tape recorder but you're able to do it from anywhere where you can get on the internet.’ VRP at 416. In an attempt to confirm this process for beginning a recording, Monsour contacted Mobile Spy's technical support. Monsour asked the technical support staff whether a recording had to be started manually or if there was some way to automate it so the phone would keep recording repeatedly. The technical support staff confirmed that a user had to manually start a recording every time.

State v. Novick, supra.

The opinion also explains that

Novick testified on his own behalf. Novick acknowledged his extensive use of Mobile Spy, but he contended that everything on Mobile Spy—including the surround recording feature—occurred automatically at random times.

State v. Novick, supra.

The Court of Appeals then took up the, essentially, two arguments Novick made in his appeal: That the evidence presented at trial “was insufficient to support any of his convictions” and that his “multiple convictions for computer trespass” violated the U.S. Constitutional prohibition on double jeopardy.  State v. Novick, supra. The court analyzed each issue, in this order.

As to the sufficiency of the evidence (or, as Novick argued, the insufficiency of the evidence) presented at his trial, Novick argued that

the evidence was insufficient to support any of his convictions. He contends that because the application automatically recorded conversations, the State failed to provide sufficient evidence that Novick intentionally recorded private communications. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we hold that sufficient evidence exists to support Novick's convictions. State v. Hosier, 157 Wn.2d 1, 8, 133 P.3d 936 (2006).

Sufficient evidence supports a conviction if, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the charged crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Hosier, supra. We draw all reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the State and interpret them most strongly against the defendant. State v. Hosier, supra. When reviewing evidence for sufficiency, circumstantial evidence and direct evidence carry equal weight. State v. Goodman, 150 Wn.2d 774, 781, 83 P.3d 410 (2004). We defer to the fact finder on issues of conflicting testimony, witness credibility, and persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821, 874–75, 83 P.3d 970 (2004).

First degree computer trespass occurs when a person intentionally gains access without authorization to a computer system or electronic database of another and the access is made with the intent to commit another crime. Former Revised Code of Washington § 9A.52.110 (2011), repealed by LAWS OF 2016 ch. 164, § 14. Here, the underlying crime was recording private communications. A person commits the crime of recording private communications when he intercepts or records private communications transmitted by any device designed to record and/or transmit said communications. Revised Code of Washington § 9.73.030.

Novick contends that the evidence is insufficient to prove he issued a command to begin audio recording from the live control panel because the computer records did not explicitly show Novick issued a command. To support his claim, Novick relies on his own refuted testimony that Mobile Spy automatically recorded the communications without a command to do so. Assuming without deciding that of manual commands is required to establish sufficient evidence, such proof existed. Monsour accounted for the absence of specific computer records showing a manual command was given by explaining that the records show only the activity that resulted in a new URL, and that commands could be sent within an internet program without creating a new URL.

State v. Novick, supra.

The opinion goes on to explain that the

forensic review of Novick's computer activity revealed substantial circumstantial evidence that Novick sent the commands. Monsour testified that `every bit of information’ confirmed that in order to activate the surround recording feature of the Mobile Spy program, a user must visit the Mobile Spy website and send a command through the program's live control panel. VRP 398. And the computer records showed that Novick visited the live control panel on Mobile Spy's website and subsequently downloaded audio files.

Novick characterizes the State's evidence that Novick issued commands to record from the live control panel as `flimsy’ and `weak.’ Brief of Appellant 10, 12. But we defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Thomas, supra. The conflicting testimony from Novick and Monsour created a credibility determination, which we leave to the trier of fact. State v. Miller, 179 Wn. App. 91, 105, 316 P.3d 1143 (2014).

Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence supports a finding that Novick sent commands from the live control panel to intentionally record Maunu's private communications. Accordingly, we hold that the State presented sufficient evidence for a rational jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Novick committed the crime of recording private communications, and thus committed computer trespass.

State v. Novick, supra.

The court then took up Novick’s Double Jeopardy argument.  As Wikipedia explains,

Double jeopardy is a procedural defence that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same (or similar) charges in the same case following a legitimate acquittal or conviction. . . .

If this issue is raised, evidence will be placed before the court, which will normally rule as a preliminary matter whether the plea is substantiated; if it is, the projected trial will be prevented from proceeding. In some countries, including Canada, Mexico and the United States, the guarantee against being `twice put in jeopardy’ is a constitutional right. In other countries, the protection is afforded by statute.

Getting back to the opinion, the Court of Appeals began its analysis of this issue by explaining that

Novick argues in the alternative that his multiple convictions for computer trespass and recording private communications violate the prohibition against double jeopardy because the correct unit of prosecution for each crime covers the entire course of Novick's conduct. We disagree.

The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that no `person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.’ Similarly, article I, section 9 of the Washington Constitution provides, `No person shall . . . be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.’ These double jeopardy provisions prohibit, among other things, multiple convictions for the same offense. State v. Hall, 168 Wn.2d 726, 729–30, 230 P.3d 1048 (2010). We review double jeopardy claims de novo. State v. Villanueva–Gonzalez, 180 Wn.2d 975, 979–80, 329 P.3d 78 (2014).

 `When a defendant is convicted for violating one statute multiple times, the proper inquiry is “what unit of prosecution has the Legislature intended as the punishable act under the specific criminal statute.”’ State v. Reeder, 184 Wn.2d 805, 825, 365 P.3d 1243 (2015) (internal quotations omitted) (quoting State v. Adel, 136 Wn.2d 629, 634, 965 P.2d 1072 (1998)). In such a case, we determine whether there is a double jeopardy violation by asking, `”What act or course of conduct has the Legislature defined as the punishable act?”’ State v. Boswell, 185 Wn. App. 321, 327, 340 P.3d 971 (2014), review denied, 183 Wn.2d 1005 (2015) (quoting State v. Villanueva–Gonzalez, supra). The scope of the criminal act as defined by the legislature is considered the unit of prosecution. State v. Reeder, supra. ‘The issue is one of statutory interpretation and legislative intent.’ State v. Reeder, supra.

State v. Novick, supra.

The Court of Appeals then explained that the

first step is to analyze the statute in question. State v. Jensen, 164 Wn.2d 943, 949, 195 P.3d 512 (2008). If the statute does not plainly define the unit of prosecution, we next examine the legislative history to discern legislative intent. State v. Jensen, supra.  Finally, we perform a factual analysis to determine if, under the facts of the specific case, more than one unit of prosecution is present. State v. Hall, supra. If the legislature fails to define the unit of prosecution or its intent is unclear, any ambiguity must be resolved against allowing a single incident to support multiple convictions. State v. Tvedt, 153 Wn.2d 705, 711, 107 P.3d 728 (2005).

State v. Novick, supra.

The court then began its analysis of the double jeopardy issue, explaining that

[w]hen interpreting a statute, our fundamental objective is to determine and give effect to the legislature's intent. State v. Larson, 184 Wn.2d 843, 848, 365 P.3d 740 (2015). We look first to the statute's plain language to determine this intent. State v. Larson, supra. We discern the plain meaning of a statutory provision from the ordinary meaning of the language at issue, as well as from the context of the statute in which that provision is found, related provisions, and the statutory scheme as a whole. State v. Polk, 187 Wn. App. 380, 389, 348 P.3d 1255 (2015). We avoid a reading that produces absurd results because we presume that the legislature does not intend absurd results. State v. Delgado, 148 Wn.2d 723, 733, 63 P.3d 792 (2003).

In applying the unit of prosecution analysis, courts look to discern `the evil the legislature has criminalized.’ State v. Hall, supra. The focus of this court's inquiry is on the actual act necessary to commit the crime. State v. Boswell, supra.

`A person is guilty of computer trespass in the first degree if the person, without authorization, intentionally gains access to a computer system or electronic database of another; and (a) the access is made with the intent to commit another crime.’ Former Revised Code of Washington 9A.52.110. `Access’ as charged here means to `approach, instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, directly or by electronic means.’ Revised Code of Washington 9A.52.110(1) (2011).

A person is guilty of recording private communication when he `intercept [s], or record[s] any’:

(a) Private communication transmitted by telephone . . . or other device between two or more individuals between points within or without the state by any device electronic or otherwise designed to record and/or transmit said communication regardless how such device is powered or actuated, without first obtaining the consent of all the participants in the communication;

(b) Private conversation, by any device electronic or otherwise designed to record or transmit such conversation regardless how the device is powered or actuated without first obtaining the consent of all the persons engaged in the conversation.

Revised Code of Washington § 9.73.030(1).

State v. Novick, supra.

The Court of Appeals then began its analysis of this issue, explaining that Novick argued

that the language used in the statutes `suggests that there is a unit of prosecution for each computer trespassed upon and perhaps for each person to whom the computer belonged.’ Br. of Appellant 15. The State responds that the plain language of the statutes define the proper unit of prosecution as each time a person gains unauthorized access to a computer and each conversation recorded without consent. We agree with the State.

The operative criminal act prohibited by former Revised Code of Washington § 9A.51.110 is the unauthorized access to another's computer. Stated another way, the `evil the legislature has criminalized’ is the access. See State v. Hall, supra; Revised Code of Washington 9A.52.110. The violation of the statute is complete as soon as the defendant accesses another's computer system with the intent to commit a crime. Likewise, Revised Code of Washington 9.73.030  prohibits recording private conversation without the consent of each participant in that conversation.

Novick contends that had the legislature intended each trespass, as opposed to each computer system, to be a separate crime it could have used such language as `a person commits a computer trespass in the first degree if. . . .’ Br. of Appellant 15. Likewise he contends that had the legislature intended the unit of prosecution for recording private communication to be each conversation, it could have used the language `by recording . . . a private conversation.’

To support his argument, Novick relies on State v. Ose, 156 Wn.2d 140, 124 P.3d 635 (2005). There, our Supreme Court held that by using the indefinite article `a’ in the clause `possesses a stolen access device’ the legislature unambiguously defined the unit of prosecution for possessing stolen property, as defined by Revised Code of Washington  9A.56.160(1)(c), as one count per stolen access device. State v. Ose, supra. Novick attempts to analogize the court's interpretation in Ose to the first degree computer trespass statute by focusing on the statute's use of `a computer system or electronic database.’ Br. of Appellant at 15. However, Novick's analogy is not persuasive. . . .

The plain language of the statutes support the conclusion that the units of prosecution for first degree computer trespass and recording private communication are each separate unauthorized access and each recording of a conversation without consent.

State v. Novick, supra.

The Court of Appeals then took up the issue as to whether Novick’s conduct resulted in more than one unit of prosecution. State v. Novick, supra. Novick argued that

his actions constituted `a single course of conduct with the single objective to spy on a single person's cell phone,’ and therefore, he should have been charged with only one count of each crime. Br. of Appellant at 16. We disagree. . . .

State v. Kinneman, 120 Wn. App. 327, 84 P.3d 882 (2003), addressed a similar issue. There, Kinneman made 67 unauthorized withdrawals from an individual's trust account. State v. Kinneman, supra. The State charged Kinneman separately for each withdrawal resulting in 28 counts of first degree theft and 39 counts of second degree theft. Kinneman argued that his numerous withdrawals constituted only a single count of first degree theft because all the takings were from the same place and the same victim. State v. Kinneman, supra. Division One of this court rejected Kinneman's argument, holding that each separate withdrawal occurring at different times could be viewed as a distinct theft. State v. Kinneman, supra.

The facts of this case are similar to Kinneman. While Novick's actions were somewhat repetitious, they were not continuous. On at least eight separate and distinct times, Novick logged onto Mobile Spy's website, accessed Maunu's phone by issuing a command through the live control panel, and downloaded at least eight different recordings of conversations between Maunu and various other people. Each access was separated by time and reflected a separate intent to record a separate conversation.

We hold that Novick's eight convictions for first degree computer trespass and eight convictions for recording private conversations do not violate double jeopardy principles because he was not charged multiple times for the same offense. Each count was based on evidence of eight distinct times that Novick's conduct violated each statute.

State v. Novick, supra. The Court therefore affirmed Novick’s convictions. State v. Novick, supra.