Case Name: James BENNETT v. STATE of Arkansas
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1984-11-13
Citations: 284 Ark. 87
Docket Number: CR 84-119
Parties: James BENNETT v. STATE of Arkansas
Judges: Hickman, Purtle, and Hollingsworth, JJ., dissent.
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 284
Pages: 87–93

Head Matter:
James BENNETT v. STATE of Arkansas
CR 84-119
679 S.W.2d 202
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Opinion delivered November 13, 1984
Griffin, Rainwater ir Draper, by: Paul S. Rainwater, for appellant.
Steve Clark, Att’y Gen., by: Marci L. Talbot, Asst. Att’y Gen., for appellee.

Opinion:
Steele Hays, Justice.
Appellant was charged with the aggravated robbery of a grocery store in Crossett, Arkansas. At a jury trial, testimony was heard from the admitted accomplice in the robbery and several other witnesses. The appellant, allegedly the gunman, wore a ski mask during the commission of the offense and only the accomplice was able to identify him as the gunman. Appellant was found guilty and sentenced to thirty-five years.
Appellant first argues that a directed verdict should have been granted because of insufficient corroboration of the accomplice's testimony. A conviction cannot be had on the testimony of an accomplice alone. Ark. Stat. Ann. § 43-2116 provides:
A conviction cannot be had in any case of felony upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows that the offense was committed and the circumstances thereof.
We have said in applying this statute: "The test of the sufficiency of corroboration of the testimony of an accomplice is whether there is other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense which goes beyond a showing that the crime was committed and the circumstances thereof. The corroborating evidence need not be sufficient in and of itself to sustain a conviction, but it need only, independently of the testimony of the accomplice, tend in some degree to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime." Sargent v. State, 272 Ark. 366, 614 S.W.2d 507 (1981); Anderson v. State, 256 Ark. 912, 511 S.W.2d 151 (1974).
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee, we find the corroborating evidence sufficient to sustain a verdict of guilt. The appellant was located six hours after the robbery in a motel about forty miles from Crossett. He had approximately $248 at the time and the store owner had testified that approximately $350 had been taken during the robbery. Two witnesses in the store testified that the gunman was wearing a blue tank top and black pants. When the appellant was arrested shortly after the robbery he had on a blue tank top and a pair of black jeans which were introduced by the state. There was evidence that the gunman and appellant were of a similar build. Witnesses testified the gunman had wrapped bandanas around his left arm and hand. The appellant had two tattoos on his left arm and one on his left wrist, and while there was no testimony as to why the bandanas were worn, it is within the jury's province to draw any reasonable inferences from all circumstantial as well as direct evidence presented. Harshaw v. State, 275 Ark. 481, 631 S.W.2d 300 (1982).
There was additional corroboration of the accomplice's testimony for the jury to consider. The accomplice stated that just prior to the robbery he and appellant hid in the alley by the store for a few minutes and discussed their plans. A witness who was passing by the store testified his suspicions were aroused when he saw two men lingering in the alley next to the store. He stopped to watch and saw the two carry out the robbery. The accomplice indicated in his testimony that he and appellant wanted to rob the store when the owner was not there and planned the robbery around his absence. Both the owner and the manager who was present during the robbery suggested the owner's known presence in the store was a deterrent to potential incidents that might occur in the store. The accomplice also testified he had carried a knife with him which he hadn't used. Although in the store during the robbery he was not initially implicated and asked to go to the bathroom where he disposed of the knife in a trash can. The manager testified the accomplice had gone to the bathroom right after the robbery and the police recovered a large butcher knife in the bathroom trash can. This corroboration, though not on substantive issues, did enhance the credibility of the accomplice's testimony. If an accomplice is corroborated as to some particular fact or facts, the jury is authorized to infer that he speaks the truth as to all. Dyas v. State, 260 Ark. 303, 539 S.W.2d 251 (1976); Payne v. State, 246 Ark. 430, 438 S.W.2d 462 (1969). There were inconsistencies mother parts of the accomplice's testimony but he testified he was intoxicated during the commission of the robbery, which the jury may have considered to account for any conflicts, and we have said in any case the credibility of a witness is a matter within the province of the jury; they may accept or reject any or all of a witness's testimony. Hamilton v. State, 262 Ark. 366, 556 S.W.2d 884 (1977).
We think the evidence here meets the requirements of our statute. It tends to connect the appellant with the crime and goes beyond a mere showing the crime was committed and the circumstances thereof.
As his second point, appellant argues that the court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial on the basis of testimony elicited by the prosecution concerning the appellant's prior record. The prosecutor asked one of the officers, in laying a foundation for questions about the appellant's tattoos, "You've had occasions to book, fill out an arrest on James Bennett, hadn't you?" A: "Yes, sir, I have." An objection was raised and a request for a mistrial was made. The request was denied and the judge immediately admonished the jury. The only other reference the appellant objects to is the next answer and question concerning the tattoos, which made reference again to appellant's record: A: "I haven't seen any [tattoos]." Q: "Your records indicated where the tattoos are?" A: "Yes, sir." No objection however was made to this second reference.
The trial court is granted a wide latitude of discretion in granting or denying a motion for mistrial and the decision of the trial court will not be reversed except for an abuse of that discretion or manifest prejudice to the complaing party. A cautionary instruction to the jury can make harmless any prejudice that may occur, and the mistrial will be granted only where any possible prejudice cannot be removed by an admonition to the jury. Hill v. State, 275 Ark. 71, 628 S.W.2d 284 (1982). In both Hill, supra and Sanders v. State, 277 Ark. 159, 639 S.W.2d 733 (1982), limited exchanges occurred very similar to the one at issue. In both cases we found that the admonishment to the jury was sufficient to remove any prejudice.
Affirmed.
Hickman, Purtle, and Hollingsworth, JJ., dissent.