Case Title: Isaac v. State

Citation: 645 So. 2d 903

Docket Number: 92-KA-0436

State: mississippi

Court: Mississippi Supreme Court

Date: 1994-10-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
645 So. 2d 903 (1994) Aundray Radell ISAAC v. STATE of Mississippi. No. 92-KA-0436. Supreme Court of Mississippi. October 13, 1994. Rehearing Denied December 8, 1994. John P. Price, McComb, for appellant. Michael C. Moore, Atty. Gen., Jeffrey A. Klingfuss, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Jackson, for appellee. Before PRATHER, P.J., and SULLIVAN and JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., JJ. PRATHER, Presiding Justice, for the Court: On March 18, 1992, after a trial by jury, the Appellant, Aundray Radell Isaac (Isaac), was found guilty of first degree arson in violation of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-1 (1972). Following the denial of his Motion for New Trial, Isaac filed his Notice of Appeal to this Court assigning as error the following: In the early morning hours of March 11, 1991, a fire occurred in Building B-11, Apartment 4, Burgland Heights, in McComb, Mississippi. At the time of this fire, the apartment was occupied by Shannon Jackson and her children. The fire department was called to the scene of this fire, but when they arrived the fire had already been extinguished. Two days later, on March 13, 1991, Aundray Isaac, was arrested for starting this fire. In the October 1991 term, Isaac was indicted by the Pike County Grand Jury of first degree arson. The indictment read in part: The first of the state's four witnesses was Shannon Jackson who lived in the apartment at the time of the fire, and who testified that she had seen Isaac on Sunday afternoon, March 10, 1991, outside of her apartment. Isaac came back to Jackson's apartment at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the morning of March 11, 1991. Isaac knocked on her front door at this time. He wanted her to open the door, but she refused to do so. She and Isaac talked for about ten or fifteen minutes through the door before she told him to leave. It is important to note that Jackson had a towel draped over her front door on both sides of the door. She testified that the towel came down to just above the peep hole on the door. At this point, Jackson went back to bed. The next thing that she said she remembered was seeing a "red glare" on the wall by the staircase. This was around 3:00 a.m. She then went downstairs to the front door. She said that when she went downstairs, the towel over the door was on fire. Isaac was at the front door telling her to open the door, but she would not do so. She told Isaac that the door could just burn down because she was not going to let him in her apartment. She then went upstairs to get her children. She and her children left the apartment because of the smoke. They left the apartment through the back door. She saw Isaac at the back of her apartment when she left. She said that as she left her apartment, Isaac asked her not to call the police. Jackson then went to her neighbor's apartment and called the police. She remained at her neighbor's apartment until the police arrived. Jackson said that when she left her apartment, it was still burning. She did not go back to her apartment until the fire department had cleared it of smoke. When she returned to her apartment, Isaac was not there and she said that she did not know where he had gone. Jackson testified that when she returned to her apartment, part of her screen door had been burned from the top. She said that it looked like something had melted on her floor. In addition, she said that she did not see the towel that had been draped across the door and guessed that it had been burned. Jackson immediately started living in her apartment again the night of the fire. Jackson further testified that Isaac was the person who put out the fire. He did so with a fire extinguisher that Jackson kept in her kitchen. Finally, Jackson stated that she did not know how the fire started. However, upon questioning on cross-examination, she said that she did not think that Isaac intentionally started this fire. In addition to Jackson's testimony regarding the details of this fire, it is also important to note the relationship between Isaac and Jackson. At the time of trial, Jackson had known Isaac for four years. They had lived together in her apartment. She said that while she and Isaac had experienced their ups and downs in their relationship, they were getting along well on the day of the fire. However, he was not living with her at that time because she "had put him out" a *905 week or two earlier. The record established that Isaac is the father of two of Jackson's children. Jackson said Isaac started living with her again about two days after the fire and lived with her until he went to jail. The State's second witness was Joyce Magee. Magee is employed with the McComb Housing Authority as tenant selection supervisor and project manager. She said that she has known Jackson since she became a tenant in May of 1990, and has known Isaac all of his life. She testified that on a previous occasion Isaac kicked in a door to Jackson's apartment. She also said that at one point Jackson indicated that she was afraid of Isaac. Finally, Magee testified that the damage to Jackson's apartment as a result of this fire amounted to $550.00. The State's next witness was Clint Weekly of the McComb Fire Department. Weekly had been a full-time fireman since July, 1987, and had been a part-time fireman since November, 1985. He was on duty on the early morning hours of March 11, 1991, and received a call from the McComb Police Department concerning this fire at 3:17 a.m. His unit was the first on the scene of the fire, arriving at approximately 3:19 a.m. He said that when he arrived at Jackson's apartment, he saw that the front door had been burned and heat damaged. The house was full of smoke and there was a powder residue from a dry chemical fire extinguisher. When the fire department arrived at Jackson's apartment, the fire had been extinguished by a fire extinguisher. Also, he said that while he was there, he did not see Isaac but that Isaac's name was mentioned. He testified that the origin of the fire was outside the front door around the peep hole, below the towel. When he arrived, he saw only a small piece of the towel lying on the floor. He stated that he could not smell any signs of an accelerant[1] because with a dry chemical in the air a person would not be able to smell it once the chemical entered the nose. However, he did say that the burn pattern and the fire burning as fast as it did were evidence that an accelerant was used. Finally, he stated that as far as he knows, no one ever tested for the presence of an accelerant. The State's final witness was Jimmy Carruth, a detective with the McComb Police Department. Carruth had been in law enforcement 24 years at the time of the trial. He investigated this fire by going to Jackson's apartment, interviewing her, and taking a number of photographs. Carruth testified that from the evidence he received from Jackson, the photographs, and the evidence he found at the scene, he concluded that Isaac was the perpetrator of the fire. He then went directly to the office and signed a criminal affidavit charging Isaac with the arson of Jackson's apartment. Isaac was arrested on March 13, 1991. Carruth interviewed Isaac concerning the fire at Jackson's apartment. Carruth, upon defense counsel's request, read into evidence a portion of a written report concerning what Isaac told him about the fire. The portion of this report that Carruth read into evidence is as follows: Finally, Carruth acknowledged that he was not present at the time of the fire and that what he knows about the fire is derived from his interviews and going to the scene. Following the testimony of Jimmy Carruth, the State rested its case. Isaac then moved for a directed verdict contending that the State had not proven that he intentionally or willfully set this fire. The trial judge denied this motion stating: Aundray Isaac took the stand in his own defense and was the only witness offered by the defense. Isaac admitted going to Jackson's apartment on the night of the fire. Isaac testified that he was at a bar from 11:00 p.m. until around 1:00 a.m.[2] He then went to Jackson's apartment between 1:00 and 1:30 a.m. Isaac said that he knocked on Jackson's front door, but did not get an answer. He said he had a cigarette in his right hand and lifted the mailbox up with his left hand and started calling her. He then lifted up the towel to look through the window but could not do so because he could not move the towel on the other side of the door. Isaac next went around to Jackson's back door and knocked for five or ten minutes. He said that she then came out of the back door and told him that the front door was on fire. Isaac went into the apartment and put the fire out with the fire extinguisher. Isaac admitted that he told Jackson not to call the police when she exited the apartment. He said that when he walked away from the front door, he did not know that it was on fire and did not learn of the fire until Jackson came out of her apartment through the back door. Isaac testified that after he extinguished the fire, he stood around for a few minutes and then left. Isaac said that he did not have any reason for not staying around after the fire. Contrary to the testimony of Jackson, Isaac testified that he did not talk to Jackson through the front door while it was on fire and further said that he did not have any conversation with Jackson through the front door. Isaac said that he guessed the fire was started by his cigarette.[3] Finally, Isaac stated that he did not intentionally start the fire at Jackson's apartment.[4] Isaac stated that if he wanted to get into Jackson's apartment he would have kicked the door in as he had previously done. After the close of his case, Isaac requested a peremptory instruction which was refused by the trial judge. The jury then retired to consider its verdict. The jury returned with a verdict finding Isaac guilty of first degree arson. Isaac was sentenced on March 26, 1992. He was sentenced to a term of 12 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the crime of first *907 degree arson. Isaac filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied by the trial judge on April 13, 1992. Thereafter, he filed his notice of appeal to this Court. At the close of the State's case in chief Isaac moved for a directed verdict. This motion was denied by the trial judge. Isaac then requested a peremptory instruction at the close of all evidence which was also denied. On appeal, Isaac assigns the denial of both his motion for a directed verdict and his request for a peremptory instruction as error. In addition, Isaac also argues that the verdict of the jury was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence in that the State failed to prove willfulness or malice as an element of first degree arson. On the other hand, the State argues that there was more than sufficient evidence presented to find Isaac guilty of first degree arson and that the verdict of the jury should not be disturbed. The standard of review that this Court employs for reviewing the denial of a directed verdict and a peremptory instruction are the same: Noe v. State, 616 So. 2d 298, 302 (Miss. 1993). See also, Hart v. State, 637 So. 2d 1329, 1340-41 (Miss. 1994); Edwards v. State, 615 So. 2d 590, 594 (Miss. 1993); Wells v. State, 521 So. 2d 1274, 1277 (Miss. 1987). Isaac also attacks the jury's verdict as being against the overwhelming weight of the evidence in that the State did not prove malice and willfulness as a necessary element of the crime of first degree arson. With regard to challenging a jury's verdict as being against the overwhelming weight of the evidence this Court has said: Thornhill v. State, 561 So. 2d 1025, 1030 (Miss. 1989). See also, Newsom v. State, 629 So. 2d 611, 615 (Miss. 1993); Burrell v. State, 613 So. 2d 1186, 1190-91 (Miss. 1993); Nicolaou v. State, 612 So. 2d 1080, 1083 (Miss. 1992); Parker v. State, 606 So. 2d 1132, 1139-40 (Miss. 1992); Leflore v. State, 535 So. 2d 68, 69-70 (Miss. 1988). Isaac was convicted of first degree arson in violation of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-1 (1972) which reads: Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-1 (1972). As expressed by the above code section, an essential element of first degree arson is that the burning be willful and malicious. It is this element that Isaac contends was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the State in the instant case. Regarding *908 this element, it is stated in Curtis' A Treatise on the Law of Arson: Arthur F. Curtis, A Treatise on the Law of Arson, §§ 57, 58, 60, 68 (1936). See 5 Am. Jr.2d Arson and Related Offenses § 11 (1962) ("At common law and under statutes which make malice and wilfulness an ingredient of the crime of arson, a particular intent or malice against a person or thing is not essential; it is sufficient to show that the accused was actuated by a malicious motive and that he set the fire wilfully rather than negligently or accidentally.") See also, 6A C.J.S. Arson § 8 (1975). The State submits that intent may be inferred from Isaac's conduct and the surrounding circumstances. The State cites the case of Wells v. State, 521 So. 2d 1274 (Miss. 1987), for this proposition. Wells states "intent may be determined from the acts of the accused and his conduct, and that inferences of guilt may be fairly deducible from all the circumstances." Wells, 521 So. 2d at 1277 (quoting Jackson v. State, 254 So. 2d 876, 879 (Miss. 1971)). The State's assessment of Isaac's actions and conduct from which it claims the requisite intent can be inferred may be summarized as follows: In support of his argument, Isaac cites the Court to several cases in which this Court held the evidence to be insufficient to sustain a conviction of arson. One such case is White v. State, 441 So. 2d 1380 (Miss. 1983). White was convicted of "setting fire to, and burning, his automobile for the purpose of defrauding the insurer." White, 441 So. 2d at 1380. In White, the most damaging evidence came from a witness who testified that he and White had discussed the burning of White's car and that White had asked him to assist in the burning. Id. at 1381. While White's requested peremptory instruction was denied by the trial court, he did not raise this as an issue on appeal. However, the Court noted plain error in the trial court's denial of White's peremptory instruction and reversed the case holding that the State had failed to prove that White was guilty of arson beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. In Moody v. State, 371 So. 2d 408, 409 (Miss. 1979), the only evidence linking the defendant, Moody, with the fire was the testimony of two co-indictees. After noting that the testimony of one of the co-indictees was contradicted, unreasonable, and impeached, and the other co-indictee had an interest in the case from the standpoint of his own guilty plea and further was greatly influenced by law enforcement officials, this Court ruled that the verdict of guilty was contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence and discharged the defendant. Moody, 371 So. 2d at 410-11. The Court in Williams v. State, 220 Miss. 800, 72 So. 2d 147 (1954), ruled that the testimony of one of the State's witnesses was inadmissible as being hearsay. In the absence of this testimony, none of the State's other witnesses connected the defendant to the burning of the building. Williams, 72 So. 2d at 151. Thus, the Court held, "there is not enough evidence to go to the jury on the issue of guilt vel non; that there is no evidence of any logical probative value to connect appellant with the alleged offense; and that therefore she was entitled to her requested peremptory instruction." Id. In the case of Holloman v. State, 151 Miss. 202, 117 So. 532 (1928), the evidence presented by the State included the fact that there had been "trouble" between Rolan Shows (the person whose property, a barn, was burned) and the defendant or the defendant's father. Holloman, 117 So. at 532. One witness testified that the defendant stated that he was going to burn the barn and that the defendant attempted to get him to aid him in doing so. Id. at 532-33. On the night of the fire, property belonging to the defendant's father, which was normally stored in the barn, was not located in the barn. Id. at 533. Also, tracks located at the rear of the barn, the point of origin of the fire, matched the shoes the defendant was wearing at the time of his arrest. Id. The Court held that the evidence presented in that case was wholly insufficient to sustain the verdict of guilty. Id. In addition to the above cases, Isaac cites the Court to numerous other arson cases in which this Court held that the evidence was not sufficient to support a conviction. These cases include: Lyle v. State, 193 Miss. 102, 8 So. 2d 459 (1942); Rutledge v. State, 171 Miss. 311, 157 So. 907 (1934); Ratcliff v. State, 99 Miss. 277, 54 So. 947 (1911); Bolden v. State, 98 Miss. 723, 54 So. 241 (1911); Strong v. State, 23 So. 392 (Miss. 1898); and Luker v. State, 14 So. 259 (Miss. 1894). In the instant case, the State presented very little evidence which would tend to prove that Isaac willfully and maliciously started this fire, thus making this case a difficult one.[7] The testimony of all of the *910 witnesses has been detailed in Section II of this opinion. Considering the evidence summarized herein, this Court is of the opinion that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Isaac "willfully and maliciously" started the fire in question. Accepting as true all of the evidence, and all reasonable inferences therefrom, favoring the State and disregarding that favorable to Isaac, there is insufficient evidence to support the verdict of guilty.[8] The verdict and sentence are reversed and rendered for the trial judge's failure to grant Isaac's motion for directed verdict or his request for a peremptory instruction. JUDGMENT IS REVERSED AND RENDERED. APPELLANT IS DISCHARGED. HAWKINS, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., and SULLIVAN, PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr. and SMITH, JJ., concur. [1] Weekly described an accelerant as anything flammable that ignites easily and causes a fast burn. Examples of accelerant that he mentioned were gasoline, lighter fluid, paint thinner, and anything else that will start immediately and ignite rapidly. [2] Isaac said that he had three beers to drink that night. [3] Isaac said that he did not have any matches with him that night. He said that he got a light for his cigarette from some people standing around the basketball court after he left the bar. He also said he threw the cigarette down when he went around to the back door. [4] Isaac said that he had no reason to intentionally start this fire and that his children were in Jackson's apartment on the night of the fire. [5] Mississippi's first degree arson statute uses the phrase "wilfully and maliciously." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-1 (1972). [6] However, Isaac stated that he did not have any matches with him on the night of the fire and that he got a light for his cigarette from some people he met after leaving the bar. [7] Though this point is never mentioned by the Appellant, Isaac, the evidence in this case seems to be wholly circumstantial in that there were no eyewitnesses and no confession. Parker v. State, 606 So. 2d 1132, 1141 (Miss. 1992). Though it may be said that Isaac admitted starting this fire, if he did he only admitted that it was an accident. In circumstantial evidence cases "the state is required to `prove the accused's guilt not only beyond a reasonable doubt, but to the exclusion of every other hypothesis consistent with innocence.'" Leflore v. State, 535 So. 2d 68, 70 (Miss. 1988) (quoting Guilbeau v. State, 502 So. 2d 639, 641 (Miss 1987)). In the instant case, Isaac requested and received a circumstantial evidence jury instruction. [8] See Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 18, 98 S. Ct. 2141, 2150, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1, 14 (1978) ("Since we hold today that the Double Jeopardy Clause precludes a second trial once the reviewing court has found the evidence legally insufficient, the only `just' remedy available for that court is the direction of a judgment of acquittal.")