P. v. Brewster CA2/1
Stephen William Brewster assaulted his mother and later, while in jail, attempted to persuade her to recant her statements to police. He was convicted of assault and of dissuading a victim from prosecuting a crime. Brewster appeals from the judgment of conviction for dissuasion, contending insufficient evidence supports the jury’s finding of specific intent because when he urged his mother to recant her complaint he meant not to interfere with the police investigation but merely to encourage her to tell the truth—that no crime had been committed.
We affirm the judgment. When a perpetrator attempts to persuade his victim to change her story in a manner that will exonerate him, a jury’s finding that he committed the crime necessarily means his design to influence the victim was corrupt.
Comments on P. v. Brewster CA2/1