State v. Boogaard

In a prosecution for theft in the second degree (RCW 9A.56.020(l)(a), .040(l)(a)), a jury found the appellant guilty. He appeals from the denial of his motion for a new trial, based on a contention that the verdict had been coerced.

The trial lasted less than 2 days. A University of Washington campus police officer testified that at approximately 3:15 one morning, he had observed the appellant and a companion pushing an arc welder along Stevens Way on the campus and had followed them on foot. When he caught up with them, they had positioned the welder facing the curb adjacent to a spot on a…