State v. Tinghitella
State v. Tinghitella
Opinion of the Court
*445Defendant appeals a judgment of conviction for one count of attempting to assault a public safety officer, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of second-degree disorderly conduct. In his second through fourth assignments of error, defendant argues that the trial court plainly erred in instructing the jury on a reckless mental state for the disorderly conduct count. The state concedes that the trial court plainly erred under the circumstances of this case. We agree, accept the state's concession, and reverse and remand defendant's conviction for second-degree disorderly conduct.
The disorderly conduct statute, ORS 166.025(1)(a), requires either a reckless or intentional mental state.
On appeal, defendant argues that the trial court plainly erred in instructing the jury on a reckless mental state, instead of an intentional mental state as charged. The state concedes that the trial court plainly erred under *446the circumstances presented in this case because the state did not request the instruction, there was no indication that either the state or defendant actually noticed the changed instruction, and the change deprived defendant-who was proceeding pro se -of an adequate opportunity to defend against the charge based on the less-culpable mental state.
We agree with and accept the state's concession that the trial court's instruction to the jury constitutes plain error under the circumstances outlined by the state, and that we should exercise our discretion to correct that error. See State v. Barrie ,
Conviction for second-degree disorderly conduct reversed and remanded; remanded for resentencing; otherwise affirmed.
Because we reverse defendant's disorderly conduct conviction on that basis, we do not address defendant's first assignment of error, which also challenges only defendant's disorderly conduct conviction. In addition, we reject without discussion defendant's pro se supplemental assignments of error.
ORS 166.025(1)(a) provides that "[a] person commits the crime of disorderly conduct in the second degree if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, the person * * * [e]ngages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior."
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.