Opinion ID: 1800634
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: invalid aggravator avoiding arrest.

Text: ¶ 51. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that it could consider as an aggravating factor that Hodges killed Isaac Johnson for the purpose of avoiding a lawful arrest. Hodges specifically states that the State was incorrect in arguing that Hodges took the telephone off the hook at the Johnson house to keep Johnson from calling 911 after Hodges had shot him. As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter: Hodges burglarized the home with the intent to commit an assault. Cora testified that Hodges informed her that the reason he went to her house that night was to kill her and her mother if she had been there. Before arriving at Cora's house, Hodges went home and changed into black clothes, black gloves and a beige ski mask. Hodges did not park in the driveway to the house but parked two houses down. The jury could have easily concluded that Hodges disguised himself in order to conceal his identity and when Isaac still recognized him, Hodges shot him in order to avoid apprehension and eventual arrest. Since efforts to avoid arrest after the murder may also be considered, there is ample evidence of Hodges's continued attempts to avoid arrest. After shooting Isaac, Hodges took the phone off the hook. The jury could have concluded that this was done in order to keep Isaac from calling 911 after he was shot. Hodges also kidnaped Cora and her baby and fled the State. On the way to Alabama, Hodges made Cora throw his ski mask out the window of the car. This Court has held that efforts to dispose of and/or conceal the evidence of the crime are sufficient to support the avoiding arrest instruction. Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1206 (Miss.1999). To further conceal evidence of his crime, Hodges and his sister hid the gun that was used to shoot Isaac. This Court finds ample evidence in the record from which it may be reasonably inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity of the killer or killers or to `cover their tracks' so as to avoid apprehension and eventual arrest by authorities. The avoiding lawful arrest aggravating circumstance was properly submitted to the jury. This issue is without merit. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 786. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.