Case Title: State v. Vance

Citation: 240 Neb. 794, 484 N.W.2d 453

Docket Number: 

State: nebraska

Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

Date: 1992-05-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
484 N.W.2d 453 (1992) 240 Neb. 794 STATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. James L. VANCE, Appellant. No. S-90-1231. Supreme Court of Nebraska. May 29, 1992. *455 Martin J. Kushner of Kushner Law Office, Omaha, for appellant. Don Stenberg, Atty. Gen., and Delores Coe-Barbee, Lincoln, for appellee. HASTINGS, C.J., BOSLAUGH, WHITE, CAPORALE, GRANT, and FAHRNBRUCH, JJ., and COLWELL, District Judge, Retired. FAHRNBRUCH, Justice. James L. Vance appeals his convictions and sentences on two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His sentences total not less than 6 nor more than 14 years' imprisonment. The defendant claims his trial was unfair because it was joined with the trial of a coperpetrator, who was tried not only for the same offenses, but also for first degree forcible sexual assault. Specifically, Vance claims that (1) the trial court erred in granting the prosecution's request to join his trial with that of the coperpetrator, Mark Schumacher, (2) there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the charges brought against him, and (3) the sentences imposed were excessive. We affirm. Upon motion of the State and following a hearing, Vance's trial was joined with that of Schumacher. Both men were charged with two counts of false imprisonment in the first degree, each a Class IV felony, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, each a Class III felony. Schumacher was charged with an additional count, first degree forcible sexual assault, a Class II felony. A person commits false imprisonment if he knowingly restrains or abducts another person under terrorizing circumstances or under circumstances which expose the person to the risk of serious bodily injury. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-314(1)(a) (Reissue 1989). "Restrain" is defined as the restriction of a person's movement in such a manner as to interfere substantially with his liberty by means of force, threat, or deception. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-312(1) (Reissue 1989). "Abduct" is defined as the restraint of a person with intent to prevent his liberation by endangering or threatening to endanger the safety of any human being. § 28-312(2). Vance was found guilty of all four charges brought against him, and he was sentenced to a total of 6 to 14 years' imprisonment. Schumacher was found guilty of all five charges brought against him, and he was sentenced to a total of 7 to 13 years' imprisonment. On appeal to this court, Schumacher's convictions and sentences *456 were affirmed. State v. Schumacher, 240 Neb. 184, 480 N.W.2d 716 (1992). Vance's first assignment of error claims the trial court erred in granting the prosecution's pretrial motion to join his trial with that of Schumacher. He asserts that the joinder resulted in prejudice. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2002 (Reissue 1989) provides: The record fails to reflect that Vance objected to having his case tried with Schumacher's case or made any motion to sever his case from that of Schumacher. The record also fails to disclose any attempt on the part of Vance during the trial to establish any prejudicial effect which could result from the joint trial. See State v. Cook, 182 Neb. 684, 157 N.W.2d 151 (1968). When issues of prejudicial joinder and prejudicial failure to sever are not before the trial court, the defendant cannot raise these issues on appeal. Issues not properly presented to and passed upon by the trial court may not be raised on appeal. State v. Beins, 235 Neb. 648, 456 N.W.2d 759 (1990). Therefore, the issue of whether the joinder of Vance's and Schumacher's cases for trial was improper is not before this court. Vance's first assignment of error is without merit. In his second assignment of error, Vance argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of the charges brought against him. After the prosecution rested, Vance moved for directed verdicts in his favor, which motion was overruled. Vance then adduced no evidence. Upon submission of Vance's case, the jury found Vance guilty of the four charges against him. As we held in Schumacher, 240 Neb. at 186, 480 N.W.2d at 718: "In a criminal case a court can direct a verdict only when (1) there is a complete failure of evidence to establish an essential element of the crime charged, or (2) evidence is so doubtful in character, lacking probative value, that a finding of guilt based on such evidence cannot be sustained." Quoting State v. Pierce, 231 Neb. 966, 439 N.W.2d 435 (1989). Accord, State v. Zitterkopf, 236 Neb. 743, 463 N.W.2d 616 (1990); State v. Pettit, 233 Neb. 436, 445 N.W.2d 890 (1989). State v. Fleck, 238 Neb. 446, 447, 471 N.W.2d 132, 134 (1991). Accord, State v. Zitterkopf, supra; State v. Reynolds, 235 Neb. 662, 457 N.W.2d 405 (1990); State v. Olsan, 231 Neb. 214, 436 N.W.2d 128 (1989). State v. Fleck, 238 Neb. at 447, 471 N.W.2d at 134. Accord, State v. Lonnecker, 237 Neb. 207, 465 N.W.2d 737 (1991); State v. Robertson, 223 Neb. 825, 394 N.W.2d 635 (1986). The facts, construed most favorably to the State, are generally set forth in State v. Schumacher, 240 Neb. 184, 187, 480 N.W.2d 716, 718 (1992): In the car, when Schumacher was alone with the woman, he committed first degree forcible sexual assault upon her. The police, who were responding to a call regarding the earlier episode, arrived on the scene. Vance, who was hiding in bushes near the car, ran away. The officers caught Schumacher in the act of assaulting the female victim in the car. Vance was arrested the next day. The evidence against Vance and the evidentiary inferences for the State warranted submission of his case to the jury. Therefore, the district court correctly overruled Vance's request for directed verdicts in his favor. The evidence was more than sufficient for the jury to have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Vance falsely imprisoned both a male and a female victim under terrorizing circumstances and that a firearm was used in the commission of the crimes. Defendant's second assignment of error is without merit. Each of Vance's convictions is affirmed. In his final assignment of error, Vance claims that the sentences imposed are excessive. False imprisonment is a Class IV felony, punishable by a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both. Use of a firearm in commission of a felony is a Class III felony, punishable by 1 to 20 years' imprisonment, a $25,000 fine, or both. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-1205(3) (Reissue 1989) requires that sentences imposed for *458 use of a firearm be consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Vance was sentenced to consecutive terms of 1½ to 3 years for each of the false imprisonment felonies and 1½ to 4 years for each of the use of a firearm felonies, for a total of 6 to 14 years' imprisonment. All of those sentences are within the statutory limits. A sentence imposed within the statutory limits will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Partee, 240 Neb. 473, 482 N.W.2d 272 (1992). Vance argues that his sentences were in error because he received more severe sentences than did Schumacher for the same offenses. Schumacher received 1 to 2 years on each false imprisonment conviction and 1 year on each use of a firearm conviction. Schumacher was also sentenced on the sexual assault conviction. State v. Boppre, 234 Neb. 922, 965, 453 N.W.2d 406, 435-36 (1990). The trial court found that Vance's criminal record was "absolutely deplorable." A review of Vance's presentence investigation reflects that he has an extensive juvenile record. When he was old enough to be charged as an adult, he was fined and jailed for numerous law violations, both traffic offenses and misdemeanors. He had previously been convicted of robbery. The probation officer who compiled Vance's presentence investigation concluded: "Based upon the defendant's prior arrest record as well as the serious nature of the current offense, it is the opinion of this officer that the only appropriate recommendation is incarceration. It appears society must be protected from Mr. Vance." The probation officer also reported: "The defendant did not admit any involvement in any wrongdoing regarding the convictions." Vance told the probation officer that he felt he was set up by his acquaintances so they could keep $1,000 he gave them for drugs. When we consider the seriousness of the crimes the jury found Vance committed, the terroristic character of the crimes, and the fact that Vance used a gun in the commission of his crimes, any sentences less than those imposed would depreciate the seriousness of Vance's offenses and create disrespect for the law. It cannot be said the trial court abused its discretion in imposing the sentences that it did. The sentences imposed upon Vance were appropriate and are affirmed. The defendant's third assignment of error is without merit. AFFIRMED.