Opinion ID: 6317070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Although Lewondowski challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in his last point on appeal, we must address it first for purposes of double jeopardy. See Sweet v. State, 2011 Ark. 20, at 9, 370 S.W.3d 510, 518. We treat a motion for directed verdict as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Gillard v. State, 372 Ark. 98, 100–01, 270 S.W.3d 836, 838 (2008). We have repeatedly held that in reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in a light most favorable to the State and consider only the evidence that supports the verdict. Id. We affirm a conviction if substantial evidence exists to support it. Id. Substantial evidence is that which is of sufficient force and character that it will, with reasonable certainty, compel a conclusion one way or the other, without resorting to speculation or conjecture. Id. Lewondowski argues that the evidence that he was the perpetrator of the three homicides was “underwhelming and missing.” He points to the lack of an eyewitness, confession, or 3 forensic evidence to directly tie him to the shootings. Furthermore, he seeks to cast doubt on James Coble’s testimony tying him to the victims around the time of their deaths and concealing the homicides by moving cars. He suggests that Coble had “an unusual amount of motivation to point the finger at [him].” However, this court does not weigh the evidence presented at trial or assess the credibility of the witnesses, because those are matters for the fact-finder. Halliburton v. State, 2020 Ark. 101, at 7, 594 S.W.3d 856, 862. In this case, the circumstantial evidence presented, along with the testimony from witnesses that Lewondowski confessed to killing multiple people, constitutes substantial evidence supporting the jury’s verdicts of guilt. We hold that the evidence was sufficient to support the verdicts and affirm on this point.