State Of Washington v. Michael Joseph Wages, 48953-8

On March 25, 2014 Brian Waddle reported his pickup truck stolen; only he and his ex‑wife had keys and had given no one permission to use it.
On April 11, 2014 Detective Whitley served a warrant at Leonard Fonda’s home, saw a truck matching Waddle’s description, and found Michael Wages hiding in a closet; Fonda told the detective he had seen Wages driving the truck.
The truck displayed swapped license plates, the public VIN was obscured with cardboard, the ignition had been removed, and the passenger door lock was visibly damaged.
Inside the truck officers found a prescription pill bottle with Wages’s name, a lighter with his fingerprints, and several fingerprints matching Wages on exterior and interior parts of the truck; a tool modified to remove ignitions was also found.
A VIN check confirmed the truck belonged to Waddle; the vehicle was impounded and fingerprinted; Wages was charged and a jury convicted him of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Sufficiency of evidence that Wages possessed the stolen vehicle	State: fingerprints, eyewitness (Fonda), personal items in truck, and presence at Fonda’s house show possession	Wages: evidence insufficient to prove he possessed the truck	Affirmed — sufficient evidence of possession
Sufficiency of evidence that Wages knew the vehicle was stolen	State: switched plates, obscured VIN, removed ignition and damaged lock indicate knowledge; actions (VIN covered) show awareness	Wages: insufficient proof he knew the truck was stolen	Affirmed — sufficient circumstantial evidence of knowledge
Whether appellate costs should be waived	State: costs may be imposed consistent with cost bill; neither party substantially prevailed	Wages: indigent; requests waiver of appellate costs	Court declined to decide waiver here; left ability‑to‑pay to court commissioner under RAP 14.2

State v. Longshore, 141 Wn.2d 414 (evidence sufficient if any rational trier of fact could find elements beyond a reasonable doubt)
State v. Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102 (in sufficiency review, defendant admits truth of State’s evidence and reasonable inferences)
State v. Andy, 182 Wn.2d 294 (deferring to jury on credibility and conflicting testimony)
State v. Varga, 151 Wn.2d 179 (circumstantial evidence equals direct evidence in weight)
State v. McPhee, 156 Wn. App. 44 (mere possession of stolen property insufficient; possession coupled with other incriminating evidence can support conviction)