COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: J u d g e s B e a l e s

, H u f f a n d C h a n e y

Argued at N o r f

o l k

, V i r g i nia

J O H N R A N D O L P H H O O P E R

OPINION BY

v. Record No. 0 7 5 2

- 2 2

- 1 J U D G E R A N D O L P H A

. B E A L E S

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

C O M M O N W E AL T H O F V I R G I N I A

FROM THE CIRCUIT COU RT OF L A N C A S T E R C O U N T Y

C h a r l e s E

. P o s t o n , Judge D e s i g n a t e

J o n a t h a n P

. S h e l d o n ( S h e l d o n & F l o o d

, P L C

, o n b r i e f s )

, for

appellant.

V i r g i n i a B

. T h e i s e n

, S e n i o r A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ( J a s o n S

. M i y a r e s

, A t t o r n e y G e n e r a

l

, o n b r i e f )

, for appellee.

A f t e r a j u r y t r i a l

, J o h n R a n d o l p h H o o p e r w a s c o n v i c t e d o f t h e f e l o n y o f i n v o l u n t a r y

m a n s l a u g h t e r a n d a l s o o f f e l o n y h i t a n d r u n

. 1 O n a p p e a l

, h e a r g u e s t h a t “ the evidence was

insufficient as a matter of law to prove that Hooper was the operator of the boat a t the time of the

accident and so i nsufficient to prove that he was guilty of either involuntary manslaughter (Va.

Code § 18.2

- 36.2) or hit an d run (Va. Code § 29.1

- 740). ”

I. B A C K G R O U N D

“In accordance with familiar principles of appellate review, the fac ts will be s t a t ed in the

light mos t favorable to the Commonwealth, [ a s ] the prevailing party at trial.” S c o t t v

.

C o m m o nw e a lth

, 292 Va. 380, 381 (2016)

. I n d o i n g s o

, t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s s t a t e d t h a t w e

, o n

a p p e a l

, m u s t “ discard the evidence of the accuse d in conflic t w i th that of the Commo nwealt h

,

1 Hooper was originally indicted in t he Circuit Court of Lancaster Co unty, but venue was

lat er transferred to the Circuit Court of the City of Nor folk on motion of the appel lant without

objec tion from the Common w ealth

. Therefore , th e record in this case came to us from the

Circuit Court of the City of Norfolk. PUBLISHED- 2

-

a nd regard as true all the cred ible evidence favorable t o the Commonwealth and all fair

inferences to be drawn therefrom. ” P a r k s v

. C o m m o nwealth

, 2 2 1 V a

. 4 9 2

, 4 9 8 ( 1 9 8 0 ) ( q u o t i n g

Wright v. Commonwealth , 196 Va. 1 32, 137 (1 9 5 4 ) )

.

O n A u g u s t 1 0

, 2 0 1 7

, f

o u r o f Jo h n R andolph Hooper ’ s f r i e n d s c a m e f

r o m o u t o f t o w n t o

stay w i t h h i m at his parents ’ home o n C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k while h i s parents were away on vacation i n

A f r i c a

. Hooper w a s a l r e a d y a t t h e h o u s e w i t h h i s g i r l f r i e n d

, Willi s B l air ( “ W i l l i s ” )

, w h e n

W i l l i s ’ s s i s t e r

, W i n s t o n B l a i r ( “ W i n s t o n ” )

, a r r i v e d a t t h e H o o p e r s ’ h o m e w i t h h e r boyfriend

,

Ralph Daniel

. V i d e o f

o o t a g e f r o m t h e H o o p e r s ’ f

r o n t

- d o o r c a m e r a s h o w e d t h a t

, w hen Daniel

and Winston arrived , Hooper g r e e t e d t h e m w i t h a b e e r a l r e a d y i n h i s h a n d

. T h e f o u r t h p e r s o n

H o o p e r i n v i t e d t o s t a y w i t h h i m w a s h i s l o n g t i m e f r i e n d

, G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k

, w h o f l e w i n f r o m

A t l a n t a

.

W i n s t o n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t

, o n c e e v e r y o n e h a d a r r i v e d

, H o o p e r t o o k t h e g r o u p o u t f o r a b o a t

r i d e o n h i s f

a t h e r ’ s t w e n t y

- o n e

- f

o o t B o s t o n W h a l e r

. 2 S h e s t a t e d t h a t H o o p e r c on t i n u e d t o d r i n k

b e e r w hile h e w a s d r i v i n g t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

. W i n s t o n a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t H o o p e r w a s t h e o n l y

p e r s o n w h o d r o v e t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r t h a t a f t e r n o o n

— a n d t h a t h e l o a d e d t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r o n t o

t h e l i f t a t h i s p a r e n t s ’ doc k w i t h o u t a n y a s s i s t a n c e

. A f t e r r e t u r n i n g h o m e f

r o m t h e a f

t e r n o o n b o a t

r i d e

, t h e f r i e n d s t h e n w e n t o u t t o d i n n e r

. D a n i e l t e s t i f i e d that

, a t d i n n e r

, H o o p e r continued t o

d r i n k a l c o h o l

, c o n s u m i n g t w o m i x e d d r i n k s

. D a n i e l a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t

, a f

t e r e v e r y o n e r e t u r n e d to

the H o o p e r s ’ h o m e a f

t e r d i n n e r

, h e

, M c C o r m i c k

, a n d H o o p e r c o l l e c t i v e l y d r a n k t h r e e b o t t l e s o f

w i n e t o g e t h e r

. A t a r o u n d 1 0 : 4 5 p

. m

. , W i l l i s a n d W i n s t o n w e n t t o b e d

, b u t D a n i e l

, M c C o r m i c k

,

a n d H o o p e r w a l k e d d o w n t o s i t o n t h e d o c k t o g e t h e r

. D a n i e l t es t i f i e d that

, a t a ro u n d 1 1 : 3 0 p

. m

. ,

t h e t h r e e m e n w a l k e d i n s i d e t h e h o u s e t o g e t h e r

. D a n i e l t h e n w e n t t o b e d

, a n d h e s a w

M c C o r m i c k w a l k t o w a r d s t h e b e d r o o m i n w h i c h M c C o r m i c k w a s p l a n n i n g t o s l e e p

.

2 Hoop er ’ s father kept two boat s at his dock on the w at e r

, a sm all boat w ith a bl ue canopy

and th e la rger B oston Wh aler.- 3

-

A f t e r D a n i e l w e n t t o b e d

, H o o p e r a n d M c C o r m i c k w e n t b a c k d o w n t o t h e d o c k t o g e t h e r

.

H o o p e r a n d M c C o r m i c k t h e n t o o k t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r o u t f o r a n o t h e r b o a t r i d e

. A c c o r d i n g t o

H o o p e r ’ s r e s p o n s e s t o s o m e p r e v i o u s i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s t h a t w e r e a d m i t t e d i n t o e v i d e n c e w i t h o u t

o b j e c t i o n

, w h i l e t h e t w o m e n w e r e r i d i n g i n t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r t h a t n i g h t

, H o o p e r r e m e m b e r e d

“ t h a t t h e b o a t h i t s o m e t h i n g h a r d

. ” H o o p e r t h e n s t a t e d

, “ I r e c a l l i m m e d i a t e l y t u r n i n g t h e b o a t ’ s

e n g i n e o f f

, t u r n i n g i t s d e c k l i g h t o n

, a n d c a l l i n g o u t f o r G r a h a m ’ s n a m e

. ” H o o p e r s a i d t h a t h e

“ d i d n o t s e e n o r h e a r G r a h a m

. ” H o o p e r t h e n “ r e s t a r t e d t h e b o a t ’ s e n g i n e a n d h e a d e d t o t h e b o a t

d o c k u p C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k t o w a r d s m y p a r e n t [ s ’ ] h o m e t h e r e ” w i t h o u t M c C o r m i c k

.

W i n s t o n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t s h e a n d D a n i e l w o k e u p t o g e t h e r t h e f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g

, a n d t h e n

t h e y m e t H o o p e r a n d W i l l i s i n t h e m a i n a r e a o f t h e h o u s e

. W i l l i s

, W i n s t o n

, D a n i e l

, a n d H o o p e r

t h e n w a l k e d t h e d o g s t o g e t h e r

. W h e n t h e y r e t u r n e d

, H o o p e r s c h e d u l e d t e e t i m es a t a n e a r b y g o l f

c o u r s e f o r t h e g r o u p

. W i n s t o n s t a t e d that H o o p e r t h e n w e n t t o w a k e u p M c C o r m i c k

, b u t H o o p e r

t o l d h e r t h a t h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t M c C o r m i c k w a s n o t i n h i s b e d

. W i n s t o n w e n t i n s i d e

M c C o r m i c k ’ s room a n d n o t i c e d t h a t “ [ t ] h e r e w a s a b e d t h a t n o b o d y h a d s l e p t i n ” a n d t h a t

M c C o r m i c k h a d “ c h a n g e d o u t o f t h e s a l m o n s h o r t s t h a t h e w a s w e a r i n g t h e l a s t t i m e I s a w h i m

. ”

W i n s t o n t e s t i f

i e d that s h e t h e n s u g g e s t e d t hat t h e g r o u p c a l l t h e p o l i c e

. H o w e v e r

, W i n s t o n a l s o

t e s t i f i e d t h a t H o o p e r t o l d h e r

, “ [ W ] e s h o u l d n ’ t c a l l t h e p o l i c e y e t ” b e c a u s e “ m a y b e G r a h a m h a d a

p a n i c a t t a c k ” a n d “ c a l l e d 9 1 1 o n h i m s e l f a n d w e n t t o t h e e m e r g e n c y r o o m

. ” S h e f u r t h e r s t a t e d

t h a t H o o p e r we n t o n t o s u g g e s t t h a t “ m a y b e h e w e n t b a c k o u t s i d e t o c a l l h i s g i r l f r i e n d

. M a y b e

h e f e l l

. M a y b e h e ’ s i n a n o t h e r r o o m

. M a y b e h e ’ s i n t h e g a r a g e

. ”

T h e f r i e n d s t h e n c a l l e d t h e l o c a l h o s p i t a l t o s e e i f G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k h a d c h e c k e d

himself i n to t h e h o s p i t a l

. H o w e v e r

, t h e h o s p i t a l s t a f f c o n f i r m e d t h a t M c C o r m i c k w a s n o t t h e r e

.

W i n s t o n t e s t i f

i e d t h a t H o o p e r t h e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t D a n i e l a n d W i n s t o n s h o u l d d r i v e t o t h e T i d e s

I n n t o s e a r c h f

o r M c C o r m i c k w h i l e H o o p e r a n d W i l l i s w o u l d d r i v e t o t h e n e a r b y t o w n o f- 4

-

K i l m a r n o c k t o d o t h e s a m e

. W i n s t o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t “ n o t h i n g w a s a d d i n g u p ” a t t h a t p o i n t

. W h i l e

l o o k i n g a t t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

, W i n s t o n a s k e d H o o p e r

, “ A r e y o u s u r e t h a t t h a t b o a t d i d n o t g o

b a c k o u t ? ” W i n s t o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t H o o p e r “ h a d [ a ] w a t e r b o t t l e i n h i s h a n d

, a n d h e s t a r t e d

b e a t i n g t h e s i d e o f i t a n d w a s l i k e

, ‘ N o

, n o

. ’ A n d t h e n h e w a l k e d i n s i d e

. ” W i n s t o n t h e n c a l l e d

the S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e t o r e p o r t t h a t M c C o r m i c k w a s m i s s i n g

.

O f f i c e r s f r o m t h e L a n c a s t e r C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e s o o n a r r i v e d a t t h e H o o p e r s ’ h o m e

.

D e t e c t i v e S t e v e S o r e n s o n s p o k e w i t h H o o p e r

. Hooper told Detect ive Sorenson that he and

McCormick “ha d gone inside about m idn i gh t of f from the pie r where t hey ha d b een ta lking,

listening to music, and drinking wine and beer .” H o o p e r d i d n o t t e l l D e t e c t i v e S o r e n s o n t h a t h e

h a d t a k e n t h e b o a t o u t w i t h M c C o r m i c k l a t e o n t h e p r e v i o u s n i g h t

.

I n t h e m e a n t i m e

, B e n

j a m i n W o o d s o n

, w h o s e h o m e i s a l s o l o c a t e d o n C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k

,

d i s c o v e r e d a m a n f

l o a t i n g i n a s m a l l p o o l o f w a t e r b e t w e e n a w o o d e n b u l k h e a d a n d a c o l l e c t i o n

o f r o c k s a n d p i l i n g s i n t h e c r e e k n e a r h i s p r o p e r t y

. 3 W o o d s o n n o t i c e d t h a t i t w a s a d e a d m a n

f l o a t i n g f a c e u p i n t h e w a t e r a n d t h a t f o a m w a s c o m i n g o u t o f t h e m a n ’ s m o u t h a n d n o s e

. T h e

o f f i c e r s w h o w e r e a t H o o p e r ’ s h o m e w e r e t h e n n o t i f i e d that a m a n ’ s b o d y w a s d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e

w a t e r

, a n d t h e o f

f i c e r s t o o k W i n s t o n t o W o o d s o n ’ s p r o p e r t y

. W h e n W i n s t o n a r r i v e d

, s h e

i d e n t i f i e d t h e d e a d m a n a s G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k

. 4

A f t e r M c C o r m i c k ’ s b o d y w a s i d e n t i f i e d

, L a n c a s t e r C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e D e t e c t i v e

J o h n n y S m i t h a r t w e n t b a c k t o t h e H o o p e r s ’ r e s i d e n c e t o s p e a k w i t h H o o p e r

. H o o p e r t o l d

D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t t h a t

, d u r i n g t h e p r i o r d a y

, t h e f r i e n d s t o o k a n a f

t e r n o o n b o a t r i d e

, t h e n w e n t

t o d i n n e r

, a n d t h e n t h e t h r e e m e n w e n t d o w n t o t h e d o c k a f t e r t h e t w o w o m e n h a d g o n e t o b e d

.

H o o p e r t o l d D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t t h a t t h e m e n t h e n “ d r a n k s o m e a l c o h o l

, t a l k e d d o w n t h e r e

, a n d

3 A bulkhead is a “ ret aining w a l l along a waterfront

. ” Bulkhea d

, Webster ’s Third New

International Dictionary (1981)

.

4 Medical examiner Dr. Jennifer Bowers testified t hat McCormick di ed fr o m dro w ning.- 5

-

a l l o f t h e m w e n t u p s t a i r s a n d w e n t t o b e d

. ” W h e n D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t a s k e d w h i c h b o a t H o o p e r

t o o k o u t f o r t h e a f t e r n o o n r i d e

, H o o p e r p o i n t e d t o t h e s m a l l e r b o a t w i t h a b l u e c a n o p y

— n o t t h e

l a r g e r B o s t o n W h a l e r

. D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t t h e n w e n t d o w n to the d o c k t o l o o k a t t h e s m a l l e r

b o a t

. D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t t e s t i f i e d t hat h e “ d i d n ’ t n o t i c e a n y t h i n g u n u s u a l o n t h e d o c k a t t h a t

t i m e

. ”

A f

e w d a y s a f

t e r M c C o r m i c k ’ s b o d y w a s d i s c o v e r e d n e a r W o o d s o n ’ s p r o p e r t y

, W o o d s o n

n o t i c e d t h a t “ t h e r e w a s d a m a g e t o t h e b u l k h e a d ” s e p a r a t i n g h i s p r o p e r t y f r o m t h e a b u t t i n g c r e e k

.

W o o d s o n s t a t e d t h a t t h e w o o d o n t h e b u l k h e a d “ w a s s p l i t a n d b r o k e n a p a r t

. ” T h e r e w a s a l s o

d a m a g e t o t h e v i n y l a n d p l a s t i c o n th a t b u l k h e a d

. W o o d s o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h i s d a m a g e w a s n o t

t h e r e b e f o r e A u g u s t 1 1

, 2 0 1 7

.

O n A u g u s t 1 4

, 2 0 1 7

, D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t a n d L i e u t e n a n t T i m o t h y S e l f r e t u r n e d t o t h e

H o o p e r s ’ r e s i d e n c e

. L i e u t e n a n t S e l f t e s t i f i e d that h e i n s p e c t e d t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

, a n d h e “ c o u l d

d e t e c t t h a t t h e r e w a s d a m a g e t o t h e f i b e r g l a s s o f t h e h u l l o n t h e b o t t o m o f t h e b o a t

. ” L i e u t e n a n t

S e l f a l s o s a w d a m a g e o n t h e f r o n t o f t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

. D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t f o u n d w o o d f

i b e r s

s t u c k i n s i d e t h e b o a t ’ s p r o p e l l e r

. T h e o f f i c e r s t h e n c o l l e c t e d p a i n t s a m p l e s f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f

t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

. A t t r i a l

, f o r e n s i c s c i e n t i s t B r e n d a C h r i s t y t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e c o m p a r e d t he

B o s t o n W h a l e r ’ s p a i n t s a m p l e w i t h t r a c e s o f p a i n t l e f t o n t h e b u l k h e a d a t W o o d s o n ’ s p r o p e r t y

.

C h r i s t y s t a t e d that t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r ’ s p a i n t m a t c h e d t h e p a i n t t r a c e s t h a t w e r e l e f t o n t h e

b u l k h e a d

.

O n S e p t e m b e r 5

, 2 0 1 7

, H o o p e r w e n t w i t h c o u n s e l t o t h e L a n c a s t e r C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s

O f f i c e t o s p e a k w i t h L i e u t e n a n t S e l f a n d D e t e c t i v e S o r e n s o n

. A f t e r H o o p e r w a s g i v e n M i r a n d a

w a r n i n g s

, H o o p e r f

i n a l l y t o l d t h e o f

f i c e r s that h e a n d M c C o r m i c k h a d g o n e o u t f o r a b o a t r i d e

l a t e t h a t n i g h t

. S e e Mirand a v. Arizona , 384 U.S. 436 (1966). L i e u t e n a n t S e l f t e s t i f i e d t h a t

H o o p e r t o l d t h e o f

f i c e r s t h a t “ h e d i d n o t k n o w w h o w a s d r i v i n g t h e b o a t

. ” H o o p e r a l s o t o l d t h e- 6

-

o f f i c e r s t h a t “ h e h a d h a d a l o t t o d r i n k ” b u t t h a t “ [ w ] h a t h e r e m e m b e r e d w a s t h e r e w a s a n i m p a c t

s o h a r d t h a t i t t h r e w h i m t o t h e f l o o r o n t h e right o f t h e b o a t

. ” H o o p e r t h e n “ r e a c h e d u p w i t h h i s

l e f t h a n d a n d p u t t h e b o a t i n n e u t r a l

. ” H o o p e r t o l d t h e o f f i c e r s t h a t h e d i d n o t s e e M c C o r m i c k

,

b u t t h a t h e “ f

i g u r e d

, s i n c e h e w a s a g o o d s w i m m e r

, t h a t h e w o u l d s w i m t o s h o r e

. ”

H o o p e r w a s c h a r g e d w i t h f e l o n y m u r d e r

, a g g r a v a t e d i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r

, a n d

f e l o n y h i t a n d r u n

. A t t h e conclusion o f t h e e v i d e n c e a t t r i a l

, H o o p e r a r g u e d i n h i s motion t o

s t r i k e t h a t t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h h a d f a i l e d t o s h o w t h a t h e w a s t h e o p e r a t o r o f t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c o l l i s i o n

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e g r a n t e d t h e m o t i o n t o s t r i k e f o r f e l o n y m u r d e r

, b u t

t h e t r i a l j u d g e d e n i e d H o o p e r ’ s moti on t o strike f o r m a n s l a u g h t e r a n d h i t a n d r u n

. T h e j u r y

f o u n d H o o p e r g u i l t y o f i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r ( a l e s s e r

- i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e o f a g g r a v a t e d

i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r ) u n d e r C o d e § 1 8

. 2

- 3 6

. 2 ( A )

. T h e j u r y a l s o f o u n d h i m g u i l t y o f f

e l o n y

h i t a n d r u n u n d e r C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 4 0

. H o o p e r n o w a p p e a l s b o t h c o n v i c t i o n s t o t h i s C o u r t

.

I I

. A N A L Y S I S

O n a p p e a l

, H o o p e r argues t h a t “ the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to prove

that Hooper was the opera tor of the boat at the time of the accident and so insufficient to prove

that he was guilty o f either i nvo lu ntary manslau ghter (Va. Code § 18.2

- 36.2) or h it an d run (Va.

Code § 29.1

- 740). ” “When reviewing the sufficie ncy of the evidence, ‘[t]he judgment o f the trial

court is presumed correct and will not be disturbed unless it is “ plai nly wrong or withou t

e vid en ce to support it. ” ’ ” S e c r e t v

. C o m m o n w e al t h

, 2 9 6 V a

. 2 0 4

, 2 2 8 ( 2 0 1 8 ) (alteration in

original) ( q u o t i n g Pijor v. Commonwealth , 294 Va. 50 2, 5 12 (2017) )

. “In such cases, ‘[t]h e

Court does not ask itself whether it believes that the evidence at the t rial est ablishe d gu i lt beyo nd

a re asonable doub t.’ ” I

d

. ( q u o t i n g P i

j o r

, 2 9 4 V a

. a t 5 1 2 ) (alterati on i n o r i g i n a l )

. “R ather, the

relev ant question is whether ‘ any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of

the crime beyond a reasonab le doubt. ’ ” Willi am s v. Commonwea lt h , 278 Va. 190, 193 ( 2 00 9 )- 7

-

( q u o t i n g J

a c k s o n v

. V i r g i nia

, 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( 1 9 7 9 ) )

. I n addition

, “ [ t ] here is no distinction in

the law between the weight or value to be given to either direct or circumstanti al evidenc e

. ”

Muhamma d v . Commonwealth , 269 Va. 451, 479 (200 5)

. “ Circumstanti al evidence is not

vi e we d in isolation

. While no single piece of evidence may be sufficient, the combin ed force of

many co ncurrent and related circumstance s

, e a c h i n s u f f i c i e n t i n i t s e l f

, may lead a re asonable

mind irresi stibly to a concl us i on. ” I d

.

Co de § 18.2

- 36.2(A) pro v id es that “[a]ny person who, as a result of operating a watercraft or

motorboat in violation of claus e (ii)

, ( i i i )

, o r ( i v ) of subsection B of § 29.1

- 738 o r a s i m i l a r l o c a l

o r d i n a n c e

, unintentionally causes the death of another person , is guilty of involu n ta ry

manslaughter.” C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 3 8 ( B ) ( i i ) p r o v i d e s t h a t n o p e r s o n s h a l l o p e r a t e a w a t e r c r a f t “ w h i l e

s u c h p e r s o n i s u n d e r t

h e i n f l u e n c e o f a

l c o h o l

. ” I n a d d i t i o n

, C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 3 9 ( A ) p r o v i d e s :

It sh all be the duty o f t he operator of a vessel involved in a

c ollision, accident, or other cas ualty, so far as he can do so without

serious danger to his own ve ssel, crew, and passengers (if any), to

render persons affected b y th e colli s ion, accident, or othe r casualty

such a ssi stance as may b e practicable and as may be necessary in

order to minimi ze any danger caused by the collision, accident, or

other casualty , and also give his name, address, and identification

of his ves s el i n writi n g to any person injure d and to the owne r o f

any property damaged in the collision , accident, or other casualty.

“ If any person knowingly fails to comply with the provisions of § 29.1

- 739 when the col lision,

accident or other casualty results i n se rious b o dily injury to, or the death of, any pe rso n, h e shall be

guilty of a Class 6 felo ny. ” C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 4 0

.

I n t h i s c a s e

, H o o p e r a c k n o w l e d g e d i n h i s S e p t e m b e r 5

, 2 0 1 7 i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e o f f i c e r s

a t t h e L a n c a s t e r C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e t h a t h e w a s u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a l c o h o l w h e n h i s

f a t h e r ’ s B o s t o n W h a l e r c r a s h e d i n t o t h e b u l k h e a d o n C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k o n the night o f A u g u s t 1 0

,

2 0 1 7

. D e s p i t e H o o p e r ’ s c l a i m t h a t h e d i d n o t r e m e m b e r w h o o p e r a t e d t h e v e s s e l

, t h e j u r y

i m p l i c i t l y m a d e t h e f

i n d i n g o f fact t h a t H o o p e r w a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h e b o a t a t t h e t i m e t h a t t h e- 8

-

c o l l i s i o n o c c u r

r e d

. T h e j u r y c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h a t H o o p e r d r o v e t h e b o a t l a t e t h a t n i g h t

,

g i v e n W i n s t o n ’ s t e s t i m o n y t h a t H o o p e r w a s t h e o n l y p e r s o n w h o d r o v e t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r

e a r l i e r d u r i n g t h e d a y

. I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e j u r y could a l s o r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h a t M c C o r m i c k ( w h o

h a d f l o w n i n f r o m A t l a n t a ) w o u l d n o t d r i v e h i s f r i e n d ’ s f a t h e r ’ s b o a t a t n i g h t i n w a t e r s w i t h

w h i c h h e w a s n o t n e a r l y a s f a m i l i a r a s H o o p e r w a s

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, t h e j u r y c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r

f r o m t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e

, i n c l u d i n g H o o p e r ’ s d e c e p t i v e c o n d u c t a n d l i e s t o t h e p o l i c e a n d

t o h i s f r i e n d s a b o u t M c C o r m i c k ’ s disappearance

, d e s c r i b e d s u p r a

, t h a t H o o p e r w a s d r i v i n g t h e

b o a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c o l l i s i o n

. S e e I n g e v

. C o m m o n w e a l t h

, 2 1 7 V a

. 3 6 0

, 3 6 6 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ( “ [ I ] t i s

within the pr ovi nce of the jury to determine what inferences are to be drawn from p rove d facts,

pr o vided the inferences are reasonably related to those facts. ” )

.

H o o p e r ’ s s t a t e m e n t s t o h i s f r i e n d s a n d t o l a w en for cement f o l l o w i n g t h e b o a t ’ s c o l l i s i o n

w i t h t h e b u l k h e a d ( a n d f

o l l o w i n g M c C o r m i c k ’ s d i s a p p e a r a n c e a n d d e a t h ) d e m o n s t r a t e H o o p e r ’ s

c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f g u i l t

. S e e R a m s v

. C o m m o n w e a l t h

, 7 0 V a

. A p p

. 1 2

, 2 7 ( 2 0 1 9 ) ( “ [ T ] he fact

finder may conclude r e garding even a non

- te stifying defendan t that his false sta tements es tabli sh

th at he has lied to co nceal his guilt. ” )

. A f t e r t h e g r o u p d e t e r m i n e d t h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h a t

M c C o r m i c k w a s m i s s i n g

, H o o p e r g a v e W i n s t o n a s e r i e s o f e x c u s e s a s t o w h y t h e g r o u p shou l d

n o t c a l l t h e p o l i c e t o h e l p s e a r c h f o r M c C o r m i c k

. W h e n W i n s t o n a s k e d H o o p e r

, “ A r e y o u s u r e

t h a t t h a t b o a t d i d n o t g o b a c k o u t ,” Winston t e s t i f i e d t h a t H o o p e r “ h a d [ a ] w a t e r b o t t l e i n h i s

h a n d

, a n d h e s t a r t e d b e a t i n g t h e s i d e o f i t

. ” W i n s t o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t H o o p e r t h e n t o l d h e r

, “ ‘ N o

,

n o

. ’ A n d t h e n h e w a l k e d i n s i d e

. ” H o o p e r a l s o d i v e r t e d D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t ’ s a t t e n t i o n a w a y

f r o m t h e l a r g e r B o s t o n W h a l e r w h e n H o o p e r l i e d b y t e l l i n g D e t e c t i v e S m i t h a r t t h a t t h e g r o u p

h a d t a k e n the s m a l l e r b o a t o u t f o r a r i d e d u r i n g t h e a f

t e r n o o n o f A u g u s t 1 0

, 2 0 1 7

.

I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e j u r y c o u l d a l s o r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h a t H o o p e r w a s l y i n g t o c o n c e a l h i s g u i l t

w h e n h e t o l d D e t e c t i v e S o r e n s o n a n d L i e u t e n a n t S e l f t h a t h e d i d n o t r e m e m b e r w h o d r o v e t h e- 9

-

b o a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e i n c i d e n t

. H o o p e r t o l d a n o f f i c e r t h a t h e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e t h r e e m e n

d r a n k m o r e w i n e a n d b e e r t o g e t h e r o n t h e d o c k b e f o r e H o o p e r a n d M c C o r m i c k w e n t r i d i n g o n

t h e b o a t l a t e t h a t n i g h t f

o r t h e s e c o n d b o a t r i d e o n t h a t d a y

. A c c o r d i n g t o H o o p e r ’ s o w n a n s w e r s

t o i n t e rr o g a t o r i e s

, H o o p e r a l s o r e m e m b e r e d “ that t h e b o a t h i t s o m e t h i n g h a r d

, ” a n d t h e n h e

f u r t h e r r e m e m b e r e d c a l l i n g o u t f o r M c C o r m i c k ( a f

t e r M c C o r m i c k a p p a r e n t l y h a d f a l l e n o u t o f

t h e b o a t )

. H o o p e r a l s o t o l d D e t e c t i v e S o r e n s o n a n d L i e u t e n a n t S e l f t h a t h e l i k e w i s e r e m e m b e r e d

t h i n k i n g t o h i m s e l f t h a t M c C o r m i c k “ w a s a g o o d s w i m m e r

, t h a t h e w o u l d s w i m t o s h o r e

. ” I n h i s

a n s w e r s t o p r e v i o u s i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s

, Hooper a l s o f u r t h e r r e m e m b e r e d t h a t h e “restarted the boat’s

engine and headed to the boa t dock up Ca r ter’s Cree k towards m y parent [ s ’ ] ho me ” w h e r e h e

l o a d e d t h e B o s t o n W h a l e r o n a b o a t l i f t o n h i s p a r e n t s ’ d o c k

— e x a c t l y a s h e h a d d o n e e a r l i e r t h a t

a f t e r n o o n

. A s H o o p e r h a s a c k n o w l e d g e d r e m e m b e r i n g a n u m b e r o f d e t a i l s a b o u t w h a t h a p p e n e d

t h a t n i g h t

, t h e j u r y c o u l d t h e r e f o r e r e a s o n a b l y c o n c l u d e t h a t H o o p e r f e i g n e d m e m o r y l o s s w h e n

h e c o n v e n i e n t l y fo r g o t a n e s s e n t i a l d e t a i l o f t h e i n c i d e n t

— i

. e

. , w h e t h e r h e w a s d r i v i n g t h e b o a t

w h e n i t h i t t h e b u l k h e a d

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, g i v e n H o o p e r ’ s f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h d r i v i n g h i s f a t h e r ’ s

B o s t o n W h a l e r a n d g i v e n H o o p e r ’ s s t a t e m e n t s t o h i s f r i e n d s a n d t o l a w e n f

o r c e m e n t

, w e

c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e j u r y w a s p l a i n l y w r o n g o r w i t h o u t c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e i n d e t e r m i n i n g

t h a t H o o p e r w a s t h e d r i v e r o f t h e b o a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e c o l lision t h a t r e s u l t e d i n G r a h a m

M c C o r m i c k ’ s d e a t h

.

G i v e n t h a t H o o p e r a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t h e h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g a l o t

, g i v e n t h a t h e w a s

c l e a r l y u n d e r t h e i n f

l u e n c e o f alcohol w h i l e h e d r o v e h i s f a t h e r ’ s b o a t i n t o a b u l k h e a d

, a n d g i v e n

t h a t G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k d i e d a s a r e s u l t o f b e i n g t h r o w n f r o m t h e b o a t i n t o t h e w a t e r a f t e r t h i s

c o l l i s i o n w i t h t h e b u l k h e a d

, w e c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t s a y t h a t n o r a t i o n a l f a c t f i n d e r c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d

t h e e v i d e n c e s u f

f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t H o o p e r ’ s conviction o f i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r u n d e r Code

§ 18.2

- 36. 2(A)

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, g i v e n t h a t H o o p e r l e f t t h e s c e n e o f t h e collision ( i n v i o l a t i o n o f- 10

-

C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 3 9 ( A ) ) a n d d r o v e t h e b o a t b a c k t o h i s p a r e n t s ’ h o m e a f t e r h e c r a s h e d t h e b o a t i n t o

a b u l k h e a d n e x t t o W o o d s o n ’ s p r o p e r t y a n d g i v e n t h a t M c C o r m i c k d i e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h i s

c o l l i s i o n

, w e c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t s a y t h a t n o r a t i o n a l f a c t f i n d e r c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e v i d e n c e

s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t H o o p e r ’ s c o n v i c t i o n o f f e l o n y hit an d r u n u n d e r C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 4 0

.

I I I

. C O N C L U S I O N

I n s h o r t

, t h e r e i s p l e n t y o f c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d t o support t h e j u r y ’ s f i n d i n g o f

f a c t t h a t H o o p e r w a s d r i v i n g t h e b o a t w h e n i t h i t a b u l k h e a d l a t e a t n i g h t w h e n M c C o r m i c k w a s

t h r o w n o v e r

b o a r d a n d t h e n d r o w n e d i n t h e w a t e r s o f C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k

. W h o w a s d r i v i n g t h e b o a t

i s a f i n d i n g o f f

a c t

, a n d t h e r e i s c e r t a i n l y c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d t o s u p p o r t t h e j u r y ’ s

i m p l i c i t f i n d i n g t h a t H o o p e r w a s d r i v i n g i t

. O n l y H o o p e r d r o v e t h e b o a t o n t h e l o n g f i r s t o u t i n g

o f t h e d a y

, e v e n t h o u g h h e h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g a n d h a d f o u r o t h e r p e o p l e o n t h e b o a t t o h e l p h i m

d r i v e i t

. H e k n e w h i s f

a t h e r ’ s b i g B o s t o n W h a l e r a n d k n e w t h e w a t e r s o f C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k w h i l e

G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k ( f

r o m A t l a n t a ) d i d n o t k n o w e i t h e r n e a r l y a s w e l l

. H o o p e r l i e d t o t h e p o l i c e

a n d t o h i s f

r i e n d s t h a t h e d i d n o t t a k e t h e b o a t o u t a g a i n a r o u n d m i d n i g h t l a t e t h a t n i g h t

. H o o p e r

a l s o l i e d t o t h e p o l i c e t h a t h e a n d h i s f r i e n d s h a d o n l y t a k e n t h e s m a l l e r b o a t o u t e a r l i e r t h a t d a y

( n o t t h e b i g g e r

, n o w

- d a m a g e d B o s t o n W h a l e r )

. H o o p e r t o l d h i s f r i e n d s a l l s o r t s o f d i f

f e r e n t

,

o f t e n b i z a r r e r e a s o n s w h y t h e y s h o u l d n o t c a l l t h e p o l i c e a n d r e p o r t G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k a s

m i s s i n g

, s u c h a s t h a t m a y b e M c C o r m i c k h a d h a d a p a n i c a t t a c k a n d c h e c k e d h i m s e l f i n t o a l o c a l

h o s p i t a l

, t h a t m a y b e h e h a d f a l l e n o f f t h e d o c k

, o r t h a t m a y b e h e h a d j u s t g o n e i n t o a n o t h e r r o o m

o r w a s i n t h e g a r a g e

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, f o r a l l o f t h e s e r e a s o n s

, w e c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t s a y t h a t n o

r a t i o n a l f a c t f i n d e r c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e v i d e n c e sufficient t o u p h o l d H o o p e r ’ s c o n v i c t i o n f o r

i n v o l u n t a r y m a n s l a u g h t e r u n d e r C ode § 18.2

- 36.2 (A)

. I n a d d i t i o n

, g i v e n t h a t H o o p e r h a d

a d m i t t e d t h a t h e d r o v e t h e b o a t b a c k t o h i s p a r e n t s ’ h o m e a f t e r i t s c o l l i s i o n w i t h a b u l k h e a d t h a t

l e d t o t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e a n d d e a t h o f G r a h a m M c C o r m i c k i n t h e w a t e r s o f C a r t e r ’ s C r e e k

, w e- 11

-

c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t s a y t h a t n o r a t i o n a l f a c t f i n d e r c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e v i d e n c e a l s o s u f f i c i e n t f o r

H o o p e r ’ s c o n v i c t i o n f

o r f e l o n y h i t a n d r u n u n d e r C o d e § 2 9

. 1

- 7 4 0

.

T h e r e f o r e

, f o r a l l o f t h e f

o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s

, w e d o n o t d i s t u r b t h e j u r y ’ s f

i n d i n g s a n d

H o o p e r ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t

.

A f f i r m e d

.