Opinion ID: 1346963
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Concerted Action Principle

Text: The Defendant next complains that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury regarding the concerted action principle. The Defendant asserts that there were no facts which showed a principle in the first degree set the fire and that the Defendant was present and in some manner aided, encouraged, assisted or incited the first degree principle. The State did not respond to this particular issue. The Court has established the following standards of review applicable to jury instructions: A trial court's instructions to the jury must be a correct statement of the law and supported by the evidence. Jury instructions are reviewed by determining whether the charge, reviewed as a whole, sufficiently instructed the jury so they understood the issues involved and were not mislead by the law. A jury instruction cannot be dissected on appeal; instead, the entire instruction is looked at when determining its accuracy. A trial court, therefore, has broad discretion in formulating its charge to the jury, so long as the charge accurately reflects the law. Deference is given to a trial court's discretion concerning the specific wording of the instruction, and the precise extent and character of any specific instruction will be reviewed only for an abuse of discretion. Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995). Further, the question of whether a jury was properly instructed is a question of law, and the review is de novo.  Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Hinkle, 200 W.Va. 280, 489 S.E.2d 257 (1996). Applying these principles, the Court addresses the Defendant's alleged error regarding the concerted action principle instruction. The trial court instructed the jury as follows, over the Defendant's objection: The Court instructs the jury that under our law, each and every person who is actually present at the scene of the commission of a criminal felony act and who participates in the commission of such act in any way, whether it be by directly doing the act or it be by encouraging, enticing, lending countenance to, or otherwise aiding the commission of the crime in any manner can be found guilty of a criminal offense and punished for it. The law calls this the concerted action principle. Under concerted action principle, a defendant who was present at the scene of a crime and who by acting with one or more other persons contributed in any way to the commission of such criminal act is criminally liable for the crime the same as if he or she were the sole perpetrator. The Defendant acknowledges that the foregoing instruction was an accurate statement of the law. He only challenges whether the facts supported the trial court giving the instruction. A review of the facts in this case reveals ample evidence was offered during trial to support the trial court giving the State's instruction on concerted action principle. The State offered the testimony of Jason Ritchie, [19] who testified that the Defendant discussed the crimes he committed against the victim with him. Mr. Ritchie stated that the Defendant told him that he and Mr. Owens went to Dr. Whitley's home to rob him and that Mr. Owens set fire to the house as they were leaving. Dr. Whitley died from smoke inhalation and burns to his body. The Defendant further told Mr. Ritchie that he stole a computer from Dr. Whitley. Additionally, Mr. Salyers gave a statement to police that he had picked up both Mr. Owens and the Defendant around 7:00 a.m. or a little after on the morning of the fire. The two asked Mr. Salyers to give them a ride to Dr. Whitley's clinic the morning of the fire, which Mr. Salyers did. [20] Finally, there was evidence submitted pursuant to Rule 404(b) which demonstrated that Mr. Owens and the Defendant had a common scheme of committing violent crime, including starting a fistfight and attempted arson. Based upon the foregoing, the Court concludes that there was sufficient evidence warranting the trial court giving the State's instruction regarding concerted action principle to the jury.