Opinion ID: 1665551
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Bell asserts that, without his confession and a hearsay statement made by S.C., both of which he claims were improperly admitted, the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. Although this point on appeal was listed fifth among Bell's points, double jeopardy considerations require this court to consider a challenge to the sufficiency of the State's evidence prior to the other issues raised in the case. Holsombach v. State, 368 Ark. 415, 246 S.W.3d 871 (2007). We first note the State's assertion that this issue was not properly preserved for appeal due to the untimeliness of Bell's renewed motion for directed verdict. The State correctly notes that a directed-verdict motion is to be made at the close of the evidence offered by the prosecution and renewed at the close of all the evidence. See Ark. R.Crim. P. 33.1(a) (2007). Failure to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence at those times will waive the issue for appellate review: A renewal at the close of all of the evidence of a previous motion for directed verdict or for dismissal preserves the issue of insufficient evidence for appeal. Ark. R.Crim. P. 33.1(c). The State is also correct in pointing out that a renewal made after the jury has been instructed is untimely. See Ellis v. State, 366 Ark. 46, 233 S.W.3d 606 (2006). Our court has dismissed sufficiency challenges as not preserved for appeal when defense counsel waited until after the jury instructions to renew the motions for directed verdict. See, e.g., id.; Robinson v. State, 348 Ark. 280, 72 S.W.3d 827 (2002); Willis v. State, 334 Ark. 412, 977 S.W.2d 890 (1998). In the instant case, the defense offered no testimony or evidence. Thus, the close of the State's case and the close of all the evidence occurred simultaneously. Under these circumstances, we conclude that a renewal of the directed-verdict motion made at the close of the State's case was unnecessary. We have stated that [a] defendant who goes forward with the production of additional evidence after a directed verdict motion is overruled waives any further reliance upon the former motion. Thomas v. State, 315 Ark. 504, 506, 868 S.W.2d 483, 485 (1994). Here, the defense did not waive reliance on the earlier directed-verdict motion by the production of additional evidence. A renewal of the directed-verdict motion was therefore not required. Consequently, we deem the sufficiency challenge to be properly preserved for our review. Our standard of review for a sufficiency challenge is well settled. 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. Cluck v. State, 365 Ark. 166, 226 S.W.3d 780 (2006). 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. Furthermore, circumstantial evidence may provide a basis to support a conviction, but it must be consistent with the defendant's guilt and inconsistent with any other reasonable conclusion. Id. Whether the evidence excludes every other hypothesis is left to the jury to decide. Id. The credibility of witnesses is an issue for the jury and not the court. Id. The trier of fact is free to believe all or part of any witness's testimony and may resolve questions of conflicting testimony and inconsistent evidence. Id. Bell asserts that his statement to police and a hearsay statement by S.C. should not have been admitted. He claims that, without these two statements, the evidence was insufficient. His argument on this point is without merit. When dealing with sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenges, our court considers evidence both properly and improperly admitted. Sanford v. State, 331 Ark. 334, 962 S.W.2d 335 (1998).