Opinion ID: 891665
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Analysis of the Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support a Conviction of Aiding and Abetting.

Text: {14} In its briefing before this Court, the State agreed with Defendant that the jury could only have based its murder conviction on an aiding and abetting theory, rather than a theory that Defendant had shot Escobar himself, because the jury acquitted Defendant on the only charge that could have been the predicate felony under a principal theory, shooting at a motor vehicle. As a consequence, our review must focus on whether the evidence was sufficient to support a reasonable conclusion that Defendant was guilty as an accessory to the murder of Escobar. {15} A defendant may be charged with and convicted of the crime as an accessory if he procures, counsels, aids or abets in its commission by another. NMSA 1978, § 30-1-13 (1972). For accomplice liability, the State must show not only [that a defendant was] aiding in the commission of the killing but also that the defendant intended that the underlying felony be committed and `intended the killing to occur or knew that [he][she] was helping to create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.' State v. Fry, 2006-NMSC-001, ¶ 23, 138 N.M. 700, 126 P.3d 516 (second and third alteration in original) (quoting UJI 14-2821). Under the law, a jury cannot convict a defendant on accessory liability for a crime unless the defendant intended the principal's acts. State v. Carrasco, 1997-NMSC-047, ¶ 9, 124 N.M. 64, 946 P.2d 1075 (affirming the intent requirements in the required aiding and abetting elements instruction). The two separate requirements, intent by a defendant that another person commit the offense and an act on a defendant's part to cause the other person to commit it, are based on the general principle of criminal culpability that the actus reus element of a crime is distinct from the mens rea element.... State v. Schoonmaker, 2008-NMSC-010, ¶ 48, 143 N.M. 373, 176 P.3d 1105 (observing that a conviction of child abuse cannot be sustained in the absence of sufficient evidence of both elements). {16} The aiding and abetting elements instruction in this case set forth the essential elements the evidence must establish in order for a jury to be able to convict Defendant as an aider and abettor to felony murder: The defendant Thomas Vigil may be found guilty of felony murder as charged in Count 1, even though the defendant did not commit the murder if the state proves to your satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt that: 1. The felony of shooting at a motor vehicle was committed; 2. The defendant Thomas Vigil helped, encouraged or caused the felony of shooting at a motor vehicle to be committed; 3. The defendant Thomas Vigil intended that the shooting at a motor vehicle be committed; 4. During the commission of the felony Carlos Escobar was killed; 5. The defendant Thomas Vigil helped, encouraged or caused the killing to be committed; 6. The defendant Thomas Vigil intended the killing to occur or knew that he was helping to create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm; 7. The defendant did not act in self defense; 8. This happened in New Mexico on or about the 21st day of October, 2005. {17} Defendant argues there was insufficient evidence to prove elements 2, 3, 5, and 6 beyond a reasonable doubt. To support jury findings on those elements, the State relies on: (1) the ongoing feud over the debt Escobar owed Anthony Jacquez; (2) Defendant's participation in assaulting Escobar several hours before the shooting; (3) Defendant's close association with the principals involved in killing Escobar; (4) Defendant's provoking an altercation with Escobar by throwing rocks, screaming obscenities, and punching Escobar; conflicting testimony as to whether Defendant may have had a pistol or shot it during his own encounter with Escobar; and (6) Defendant's likely awareness that one or more of his friends had been staying at the trailer across the road, and the resulting inferences that he might have expected them to be at the residence, that his own loud confrontation with Escobar would have been heard by his friends, and that hearing the commotion would have encouraged them to join the affray and to kill Escobar to avenge his shooting of Thomas Vigil. {18} None of these factors, individually or collectively, gives rise to any reasonable conclusion that Defendant engaged in any of the behavior with the intent to encourage others to commit either the predicate felony of shooting at Escobar's vehicle or the killing of Escobar. All of it was consistent instead with Defendant's acting only out of an intent to confront Escobar himself. In fact, the trial evidence was that Defendant was surprised at seeing Escobar's vehicle at the Martinez trailer. There was not a shred of evidence that Defendant called out for help to anyone, that he made any attempt to summon the shooters, that he even glanced in the direction from which they might come, or that he made any statement or took any action that indicated he was aware they were anywhere in the vicinity. {19} The circumstantial evidence that Defendant expected the principal shooters to be at the trailer next door was only that Defendant, the Jacquez brothers, and Larry Abeyta had been known to hang out there from time to time. No evidence was presented that Defendant had any communication with the Jacquez brothers or Abeyta once Anthony Jacquez and Defendant parted company earlier that day. Whatever prompted the principals to run to the county road and shoot at Escobar's vehicle as it backed down the driveway of the Martinez trailer onto the county road was not established at trial. Although evidence of aiding and abetting may be as broad and varied as are the means of communicating thought from one individual to another; by acts, conduct, words, signs, or by any means sufficient to incite, encourage or instigate commission of the offense, State v. Ochoa, 41 N.M. 589, 599, 72 P.2d 609, 615 (1937), we have a duty to assure that the basis of a conviction is not mere speculation. State v. Apodaca, 118 N.M. 762, 766, 768, 887 P.2d 756, 760, 762 (1994) (holding that there was sufficient evidence to sustain a finding that a defendant aided her mother in killing her husband where she repeatedly discussed murdering her husband, sought advice about how to do so, attempted to solicit three persons to commit murder for her, expressed that she would lose her husband's house if she got a divorce, borrowed a gun, concocted a false cover story as to her activities the day before and after the murder, and accompanied her mother to the place where the murder weapon was hidden). See UJI 14-6006 NMRA (providing that a jury's verdict should not be based on speculation, guess or conjecture). {20} The chain of inferences relied on by the State to support a conclusion that Defendant intended to perform any act of aiding and abetting amount to no more than guess or conjecture, rather than a sufficient basis upon which to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For the jury to have reached [the conclusions necessary to the verdict, it] had to speculate. This it may not do. State v. Malouff, 81 N.M. 619, 621, 471 P.2d 189, 191 (Ct.App.1970) (reversing a conviction for insufficiency and noting that while a reviewing court views the evidence and inferences in the light most favorable to the verdict, this proposition does not replace the requirements of proof). {21} The facts in this case are very similar to those in State v. Salazar, 78 N.M. 329, 331, 431 P.2d 62, 64 (1967) (explaining that an aider and abettor must share the criminal intent and purpose of the principals). In Salazar, this Court held the evidence insufficient to support a conviction for aiding and abetting a robbery where there was a complete absence of any evidence to support a conclusion that Salazar intentionally assisted in the robbery. Id. After pulling into a gas station, Salazar and two driving companions had an altercation with the station attendant, who subsequently pulled a gun and shot Salazar. Id. at 330, 431 P.2d at 63. Salazar collapsed on the ground before being picked up and placed in the car by his companions. Id. Salazar's two companions then stole two tires from the station by placing them in the backseat of the car and driving off. Id. All three were quickly apprehended by the police when their car stalled. Id. Salazar expressed no manifestation of approval or encouragement to take the tires. Id. at 331, 431 P.2d at 64. As in this case, Salazar was incapacitated before the principals committed their criminal acts. We concluded that the record was replete with evidence suggesting he was incapable of performing any act or forming the requisite criminal intent. Id. {22} We do not condone Defendant's behavior in either of the two assaults he committed on the day Escobar was killed. Nor do we express any desire to intrude on the legitimate role of the jury as trier of fact. However, we must honor our own responsibility to correct criminal convictions that are not founded on at least the bare minimum of sufficient supporting evidence. In this case, we must conclude that the jury was provided with insufficient evidence that Defendant committed any volitional act with the intent to encourage or assist the principals in the shooting that resulted in Escobar's death. If we were to hold otherwise, we would render the required elements of the [crime] meaningless. State v. Duran, 2006-NMSC-035, ¶ 16, 140 N.M. 94, 140 P.3d 515 (reversing tampering conviction for insufficiency where there was no evidence regarding an overt act by the defendant and no reasonable way for a jury to infer intent). We therefore exercise our duty to set aside the impermissible conviction and sentence for first-degree murder. Nothing in our result, of course, is intended to preclude the prosecution of Defendant for any criminal offenses that sufficient evidence shows he did commit.