Title: State v. Stone

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

State v. Stone (98-075); 170 Vt. 496; 756 A.2d 785

[Filed 12-May-2000]

       NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
  V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal  revision before publication in the Vermont
  Reports.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter  of Decisions,
  Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
  any  errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
  to press.

                                 No. 98-075

State of Vermont	                         Supreme Court

                                                 On Appeal from
     v.		                                 District Court of Vermont,
                                                 Unit No. 3, Caledonia Circuit
Pamela Stone
                                                 March Term, 1999

Mary Miles Teachout, J.

Robert M. Butterfield, Caledonia County Deputy State's Attorney, St. Johnsbury, 
  for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Robert Appel, Defender General, and Henry Hinton, Appellate Attorney, 
  Montpelier, for Defendant-Appellant.

PRESENT:  Amestoy, C.J., Dooley, Morse, Johnson and Skoglund, JJ.

       DOOLEY, J.   Defendant Pamela Stone was convicted by a Caledonia
  District court jury  of hindering a police officer, in violation of 13
  V.S.A. § 3001.  Defendant appeals on the grounds  that the evidence
  presented at trial was insufficient to support her conviction.  We agree
  and  reverse.

       On September 19, 1998, a Vermont State Police officer received
  information that John  Stone had failed to return from furlough and had
  been placed on escape status by the Vermont 

 

  Department of Corrections.  The officer had dealt with Mr. Stone before,
  knew where Stone  lived, and drove his marked cruiser to Stone's home in
  St. Johnsbury.  Finding no one at home,  the officer left around 8:00 p.m. 
  While on the road only minutes later, the officer came up behind  a car he
  recognized as that of defendant Pamela Stone, Mr. Stone's wife.  He
  followed the car as  it pulled into the parking lot of a gas station in
  Lyndonville and proceeded into a dimly-lit section  of the parking lot
  behind the station.  The officer stopped and approached the car,
  determining  with his flashlight that the car was occupied by defendant in
  the driver's seat, John Stone in the  front passenger's seat and an unknown
  male in the back seat.  He also saw alcohol containers on  the rear floor.  

       As the officer neared the driver's window, defendant asked if there
  was a problem.  The  officer replied that Mr. Stone was on escape status
  and directed the occupants of the vehicle to  remain in it and to place
  their hands where they could be seen.  Defendant complied with this  order
  by putting her hands on the steering wheel and remaining in her seat.

       Mr. Stone, however, did not comply.  Instead, he began to yell and
  swear, generally  acting out of control.  The officer moved to the
  passenger side of the vehicle, repeatedly telling  Mr. Stone that he was
  under arrest and to exit the car.  Mr. Stone refused to comply, continuing 
  his verbal torrent and locking his door.  When the officer determined he
  could not enter, and after  warning Mr. Stone of the consequences of
  noncompliance, he smashed the passenger window with  his flashlight to gain
  access to the door lock.

       When the officer shattered the window, defendant immediately got out
  of the car and  walked towards the rear of the vehicle in a quick and
  determined manner.  She was carrying an  object that turned out to be her
  purse.  The officer ordered her to return to the driver's seat, but 

 

  she did not comply and continued walking.  The officer then left the
  passenger side of the car and  confronted defendant along the driver's
  side.  He repeatedly ordered defendant to get back in the  car until he had
  apprehended Mr. Stone, but she refused to comply and attempted to go either 
  around or through the officer.  After warning her, the officer then told
  defendant that she was  under arrest, and he reached down to grab her wrist
  to handcuff her.  That caused an altercation  between the officer and Mr.
  Stone, who left the vehicle to come to the aid of his wife.  A back-up 
  officer arrived and took custody of defendant while the original officer
  arrested Mr. Stone.

       Defendant was charged with and convicted by a jury of hindering the
  officer's arrest of  Mr. Stone in violation of 13 V.S.A. § 3001.  That
  statute provides that "[a] person who hinders  an executive, judicial, law
  enforcement, civil or military officer acting under the authority of this 
  state or any subdivision thereof shall be imprisoned not more than three
  years or fined not more  than $500.00, or both." (FN1)
  
       Defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to V.R.Cr.P.
  29(a), both at the  close of the State's case and at the close of the
  evidence, arguing that the evidence was insufficient  to sustain a
  conviction for hindering the officer's arrest of her husband.  The trial
  court applied  the standard for considering such a motion: whether the
  evidence viewed in a light most favorable  to the State and excluding any
  modifying evidence, is sufficient to fairly and reasonably support  a
  finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  See State v. Couture, ___Vt.
  ___, ___,