Opinion ID: 2335311
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Fields, in his second point on appeal, contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict. A directed-verdict motion is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Goins v. State, 318 Ark. 689, 890 S.W.2d 602 (1995); Graham v. State, 314 Ark. 152, 861 S.W.2d 299 (1993). As such, it must be addressed by this court before any other points on appeal. Goins, supra ; Hendrickson v. State, 316 Ark. 182, 871 S.W.2d 362 (1994). It is well settled that a motion for a directed verdict is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Smith v. State, 346 Ark. 48, 55 S.W.3d 251 (2001) (citing Durham v. State, 320 Ark. 689, 899 S.W.2d 470 (1995)). The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is whether the verdict is supported by substantial evidence, direct or circumstantial. Smith, supra . Substantial evidence is evidence forceful enough to compel a conclusion one way or the other beyond suspicion or conjecture. Id. When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence convicting him, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the State. Id. Only evidence supporting the verdict will be considered. Smith, supra . After the State rested in the present case, counsel for Fields moved for a directed verdict based on the fact there was no evidence produced linking Fields to the robbery. Subsequently, after the close of all the evidence, counsel for Fields renewed his motion for directed verdict. The trial court denied both motions. At Fields's trial, Steven Watt testified that he was an assistant manager at Tires For Less, and at around 4:30 to 4:40 p.m., on July 7, 1998, he was at his desk getting ready to close the business. Watt testified that he heard someone at the window in front of him ask for money. Watt looked up and saw a man with a gun. Watt looked at the individual again, who said, Do you think I'm playing, and pulled the trigger, and the bullet struck Watt in the upper left chest. About three or four days after this incident, detectives visited Watt at his home. Watt identified Fields from a photographic lineup. Watt was adamant that no one suggested a choice when he viewed the photographic lineup. In fact, after Watt identified Fields, the detective told him to take his time, look the lineup over, and make sure. Watt, also, made an in-court identification of Fields at trial, stating that he was absolutely positive that Fields was the shooter. Watt stated that he was one hundred percent certain of the identification, and he recalled that the perpetrator had a face that he would never forget. He stated that the window that he viewed Fields through is probably twenty-four to twenty-six inches wide and around three feet tall, and that he saw Fields from the chest up. Patrick Mahoney, also, testified at Fields's trial. He testified that on July 7, 1998, he was fourteen years old and helping Steven Watt, his stepfather, at work at Tires For Less. Patrick testified that at approximately 4:30 to 4:45 p.m., two individuals drove up in a black car. One of the individuals stood by the garage door while the other came in and said This is a robbery. Patrick stated that the individual pointed a gun at him and warned him not to move. The individual then went to the window where Watt was working, shot him, retrieved money from an office, and ran out of the building. Patrick testified that he observed the shooter walking from inside the garage door to where Watt's office was. Patrick Mahoney further testified that detectives came to his house on July 10, 1998, regarding the incident at Tires For Less. Patrick was able to identify Fields from a photo lineup that the detectives presented to him. Patrick was also able to positively identify Fields at trial. Richard Stewart, a customer in Tires For Less at the time of the robbery and shooting, testified at trial that a man walked into the store about ten to twelve feet from him, pulled a weapon out of a bag, and announced that a robbery was taking place. Stewart followed the robber to the front of the store and about a minute later, a shot rang out. Stewart told the trial court that he saw the robber run into the office, pick up a bank bag, and leave the store. Some time after the shooting, Stewart was shown a photographic lineup, and he was able to make an identification of Fields with one hundred percent certainty. John Mahoney was working at Tires For Less on the day of the robbery. While watching television, he heard someone state, Give me the money, and, then, heard a gunshot. The robber then ran in and asked John where the money was, and John told him. John stated that he was able to get a good look at the perpetrator, and he was able to give a description of the robber to the police. John was later shown a photograph of the robber and was able to identify him. John stated that he picked the photograph of Fields as the culprit. John, also, identified Fields from the stand at trial. Appellant Fields argues to this court that the evidence at trial was not sufficient to support the guilty verdicts. However, the State presented three witnesses to the robbery and shooting that correctly selected Fields as the perpetrator from a photographic lineup. Further, four witnesses correctly identified Fields as the perpetrator from the stand at trial. Therefore, we affirm the trial court in denying Fields's motions for directed verdict because there was evidence forceful enough to compel a conclusion of guilt.