[¶ 1] Duаne Rue appeals his escape conviction. Rue argues, under the circumstances, the escape statute does not apply. Alternatively, Rue argues, if the statute does apply, his conduct constituted a misdemeanor rather than a felony. Concluding the escape statute applies to the circumstances, and concluding the record supports Rue’s felony conviction, we affirm.
I
[¶ 2] In July 1998, Rue pled guilty to terrorizing, a class C felony. Rue was imprisoned for six months and thereafter was released subject to supervision of a probation officer. On March 3, 2000, alleging Rue had violated “one or more of the conditions” of his probation, a probation officer petitioned the district court to revoke Rue’s probation. Specifically, the officer alleged Rue had absconded from supervision by failing to report to his probation officer аs ordered by the court. On March 7, 2000, the district court issued an order to apprehend Rue for the alleged probation violation.
[¶ 3] On July 6, 2000, in an attempt to apprehend Rue, the Eddy County Sheriff and two deputies went to the residence of Rue’s father in Sheyenne, North Dakota. While the deputies waited nearby, the sheriff met with Rue, who sat in the front seat of the sheriffs car while the two conversed. After a few minutes of casual, unrelated conversation, the sheriff told Rue about the district court order of apprehension. Rue was provided a copy of the order, which he read. The sheriff told Rue that in order to resolve the matter, he would have to accompany officers to the law enforcement center in Devils Lake.
[¶ 4] Rue got out of the car and began walking toward the house. The sheriff, who had advised Rue that he was under arrest, grabbed Rue in an attempt to keep him from leaving. Rue broke free from the sheriffs grasp and locked himself inside his father’s house. Officers ultimately entered the house through a window and took Rue to jail.
[¶ 5] Rue was charged with several offenses resulting from the incident. After a bench trial, Rue was acquitted of all charges except escape. Concluding Rue escaped from official detention, the district court found him guilty of escape. The district court also concluded Rue’s official detention was “pursuant to conviction” of
[¶ 6] The district court had jurisdiction under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06. This Court has jurisdiction under N.D. Const, art. VI, § 6, and N.D.C.C. § 29-28-06.
II
[¶ 7] Rue argues that at the time of the incident, he was not under “official detention” as required by North Dakota’s escape provision, N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06. Alternatively, Rue argues his official detention was not “pursuant to” conviction of an offense and therefore, at most, his conduct was a misdemeanor.
[¶ 8] The evidentiary standard used for review of a criminal bench trial is the same as if the case had been tried to a jury.
State v. Nehring,
[¶ 9] The escape statute, N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06, provides:
1. A person is guilty of escape if, without lawful authority, the person removes or attеmpts to remove himself from official detention or fails to return to official detention following temporary leave granted for a specified purpose or limited period.
2.... Escape is a class C felony if:
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b. The person escaping was in official detention by virtue of the person’s arrest for, or on charge of, a felony, or pursuant to the person’s conviction of any offense. Otherwise escape is a class A misdemeanor.
[¶ 10] The statute further defines official detention:
“Official detention” mеans arrest, custody following surrender in lieu of arrest, detention in any facility for custody of persons under charge or conviction of an offense or alleged or found to be delinquent, detention under a law authorizing civil commitment in lieu of criminal proceedings or authorizing such detention while criminal proceedings are held in abeyance, detention for extradition, or custody for purposes incident to the foregoing, including transpоrtation, medical diagnosis or treatment, court appearances, work, and recreation, or being absent without permission from any release granted while under custody of a sentence such as work or education release, community confinement, or other temporary leaves from a correctional or placement facility, but “official detention” does not include supervision on probation or pаrole or constraint incidental to release.
N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06(3)(b).
A
[¶ 11] Rue argues the purpose of his custody was for a probation violation, not “to answer for an offense” for which arrest is allowed. Rue argues that without an arrest, there was no “official detention” as required by N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06. Arrest is defined as “the taking of a person into custody in the manner authorized by law to answer for the commission of an offense.” N.D.C.C. § 29-06-01. An offense is “conduct for which a term of imprisonmеnt or a fine is authorized by statute after conviction.” N.D.C.C. § 12.1-01-04(20).
[¶ 13] One who violates probation is subject to arrest. An arrest for probation violation requires probable cause or a court order, as outlined in N.D.R.Crim.P. 32(f)(1):
Taking Into Custody. On probable cause to believe a probationer has violated a condition of probation, any State parole and probatiоn officer, or any peace officer directed by a State parole and probation officer or directed by an order of the court having jurisdiction may take the probationer into custody and bring the probationer before the court that originally placed the probationer on probation for a hearing on the alleged violation.
B
[¶ 14] After receiving a petition to revoke Rue’s probation, the district court ordered the apprehension of Rue. Rue agrees the district court’s order provided the sheriff authority to lawfully take him into custody, but he argues that arrest and custody are distinguishable. Essentially, Rue argues he could be taken into custody for violating probation, but he could not be arrested. Extending this argument, Rue argues that without an arrest, he could not be officially detained and therefore could not escape.
[¶ 15] Under Rue’s interpretаtion, the district court’s authority to order apprehension would be rendered meaningless. The district court could still issue an order to apprehend, but if a probationer could merely walk away, the order would, be ineffective.
[¶ 16] The term “arrest warrant” is not defined in Rule 4 of the North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure — the rule authorizing arrest warrants — and the rules do not define “order of apprehension.” The explanatory note discussing the purpose and construction of the Rules of Criminal Procedure states the rules “are not to be applied ritualistieally, but are to be construed in the flexible spirit contemplated by the law.” Explanatory Note, N.D.R.Crim.P. 2 (citation omitted).
[¶ 17] The term “arrest warrant” is, however, defined in Chapter 29 of the North Dakota Century Code, the chapter codifying criminal judicial procedure. Under the uniform extradition and rendition act, “ ‘[a]rrest warrant’ means any document that authorizes a peace officer to take custody of a person.” N.D.C.C. § 29-30.3-01. “Whenever the meaning of a word or phrase is defined in any statute,” that definition applies to “the same word or phrase wherever it occurs in the same or subsequent statutes, except when a contrary intention plainly appears.” N.D.C.C. § 1-01-09. The district court’s order, directed to any sheriff or peace officer in North Dakota, stated:
It аppearing to the Court by the verified Petition ... that the Defendant, Duane Rue, may have violated conditions of his probation in the above entitled case, it is hereby ORDERED: That you are hereby commanded to apprehend the aforesaid Defendant and bring him before the Court forthwith for further proceedings.
The order was dated March 7, 2000, and included the handwritten comment “bail hearing required.” We conclude the district court’s order authorized оfficers to arrest Rue for violating probation.
[¶ 18] Having concluded that upon probable cause or court order, a person may be arrested for violation of probation, and having concluded the district court’s order authorized arrest, we must determine whether the- facts of this case constituted an arrest.
C
[¶ 19] We agree that every custody is not necessarily an arrest.
See, e.g., State v. Gelvin,
[¶ 20] Rue argues that official detention, as defined in N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06(3)(b), specifically excludes probation and parole from the definition. The statue provides: “ ‘official detention’ does not include supervision on probation or pаrole or constraint incidental to release” (emphasis added). In this case, Rue was taken into custody, not for supervision, but to be taken before the district court for violating his probation.
[¶ 21] Because the district court ordered Rue’s apprehension, the sheriff and deputies sought Rue at his father’s residence. The order of apprehension was tantamount to an arrest warrant. See N.D.C.C. § 29-30.3-01(1) (an arrest warrant is “any document that authorizes a peace officer to take custody of a person”); see also N.D.C.C. § 1-01-09 (defined terms have the same meaning unless a contrary intention plainly appears). After Rue was seated in the sheriffs patrol car, he was given a copy of the order of apprehension. Rue read the order, and the sheriff told Rue that he would have to accompany officers to Devils Lake in order to resolve the matter.
[¶ 22] Thereafter, Rue stepped out of the patrol car and began to walk away. He was grabbed by the sheriff, who told him he was under arrest. Notwithstanding this advisement, Rue broke free from the sheriffs grasp and went into his father’s house. At trial, Rue’s own testimony acknowledged arrest. The objective facts clearly demonstrate that Rue was under arrest.
D
[¶ 23] An arrest constitutes “official detention.” N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06(3)(b). Rue broke free from the sheriff after he was arrested. He then entered his father’s house and barricaded himself inside. At trial, the district court concluded Rue removed himself from official detention without lawful authority. The district court held Rue was guilty of escape.
[¶ 24] Viewing the evidence and its inferences most favorable to the verdict, we conclude substantial evidence exists to affirm Rue’s conviction.
State v. Overby,
[¶ 25] Rue argues his official detention was not “pursuant to ... conviction of any offense.” See N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06(2)(b) (an escape from official detention “pursuant tо ... conviction of any offense” is a class C felony, while most other escapes are class A misdemeanors). Rue argues he was placed in official detention “pursuant to” the district court’s order of apprehension, not “pursuant to” his conviction of an offense. Accordingly, Rue argues the use of “pursuant to” in N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06 is ambiguous.
A
[¶ 26] The parties cite no cases interpreting N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06 or similar statutes from other jurisdictions. This issue raised by Rue has not been previously addressed by this Court. Likewise, few jurisdictions have interpreted similar statutes.
[¶ 27] The Court of Appeals of Washington, however, has interpreted a similar statute on at least three occasions.
See State v. Perencevic,
[¶ 28] In
State v. Snyder,
the defendant pled guilty to second degree escape based on his unauthorized absence while being detained for burglary.
[¶ 29] In
State v. Solis,
after conviction and sentence for a felony, the defendant was paroled.
The issuance of the order and warrant [by the parole officer] immediately and effectively suspended Mr. Solis’ parole. The suspension of his parole effectively reinstated his prior felony conviction and upon arrest he would have been held pursuant to the conviction pending an on-site hearing. Until his arrest ... he was an escapee until apprehended.
Id. Therefore, the court concluded Solis’ argument — distinguishing detention pursuant to conviction from detention pursuant to possible parole revocation — failed. Id.
[¶ 30] In
Perencevic,
the defendant was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting and sentenced to thirty days in jail.
[¶ 31] While Perencevic was in jail, someone attempted to dig through a wall of the jail. Id. at 559. An inmate testified he observed Perencevic cutting the wall; Perencevic was charged with attempted first degree escape. Id. The issue was whether Perencevic was “detained pursuant to a felony conviction” as required for first degree escapе. Id. Perencevic argued the warrant alleging a “probation violation” was issued for a matter for which he had completed his sentence. Id.
[¶ 32] Perencevic argued the alleged probation violation “did not reinstate a sentence of confinement.” Id. The appellate court stated state law “permits a court to modify its judgment and sentence and impose further punishment if, after hearing, it finds that an offender has violated a сondition or requirement of the sentence.” Id. at 559-60 (citation omitted); see also N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-07(6) (North Dakota’s comparable provision). Perencevic argued his detention was analogous to being charged with a crime instead of “pursuant to a conviction.” Id. at 560. The court held:
Here, the warrants arose out of Peren-cevic’s prior felony convictions. The warrants also related to the punishment or sentence he received on his felony convictions because they were issued duе to his failure to complete certain requirements of community supervision which are as much a part of the punishment and sentence as detention time. Because there was a causal relationship between the warrants and the prior felony convictions, we hold that Perencevic’s detention for his alleged supervision violation was “pursuant to a conviction of a felony”. Thus, Perencevic was properly found guilty оf attempted escape in the first degree.
Id. (footnote omitted).
B
[¶ 33] Like Perencevic’s argument, Rue’s argument suggests North Dakota’s escape provision is ambiguous because his detention may have been pursuant to the district court’s order or pursuant to his prior conviction. An ambiguous statute is one that “is susceptible to differing but rational meanings.”
State v. Rambousek,
[¶ 34] The term “pursuant to” is undefined in N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06 or elsewhere in North Dakota’s criminal code. One source defines “pursuant to” as “[i]n compliance with; in accordance with; under.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1250 (7th ed.1999). Additionally, “pursuant to” may mean “[a]s authorized by; ... [i]n carrying out.” Id. Although we agree Rue’s arrest may have been pursuant to the district court’s order or pursuant to his conviction of an offense, or even pursuant to the petitiоn for revocation of probation, 1 we disagree there exists an ambiguity in the statute.
[¶ 35] As in
Perencevic,
the district court’s order of apprehension is causally
C
[¶ 36] In a criminal case, due proсess requires that the prosecution prove each element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
State v. Olander,
[¶ 37] Rue аcknowledges the criminal information charged him with felony escape. The information alleged Rue removed himself from official detention, and the detention was pursuant to conviction of an offense. Unlike misdemeanor escape, felony escape requires proof of additional attendant facts. N.D.C.C. § 12.1-08-06. The trial transcript demonstrates the district court was satisfied that the additional elements were proven beyond а reasonable doubt:
I’m going to start with the escape charge, violation of 12.1-08-06. The Court, in sitting as a bench trial, the Court is cognizant that the purpose is to see if the essential elements of the offense have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt as charged. In this case, the Court finds there are four elements. Number one, did the defendant willfully, the Court finds he did. Number two, without lawful authority, the Court finds there was no lawful authority he had. So that’s been proven. Thirdly, to remove or attempt to remove himself from official detention. The Court finds that has been met. Fourth, pursuant to defendant’s conviction of an offense. The Court finds that that has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. All of these elements have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the Court finds the defendant guilty of the charge of escape, Class C Felony, in violation of 12.1-08-06.
For the record, the Court would note since there were no jury instructions given, that I did consider the fact that there was a conviction of an offense prior to the Order for Apprehension on the probation. That was the underlying basis for this matter and why he was being in detention. And I did consider the definition of official detention anddid find that at the time he was in the pickup, that did meet the beyond a reasonable doubt definition of official detention and he attempted tо remove himself from the vehicle and did remove himself without permission. Therefore, he’s guilty of escape.
[¶ 38] The record demonstrates the district court was fully cognizant of the State’s burden to prove an additional element for felony escape. Without reweighing the evidence or judging the credibility of the witnesses, we conclude the record demonstrates substantial evidence exists to warrant the conviction.
State v. Overby,
IV
[¶ 39] The district court’s criminal judgment is affirmed.
Notes
. At oral argument, Rue’s counsel suggested Rue's detention was "pursuant to" many fac