Opinion ID: 1791734
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Wilson challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for both carjacking and reckless endangerment. We conclude that the evidence is sufficient to sustain these two convictions. Under Rule 13(e) of the Tennesee Rules of Appellate Procedure, [f]indings of guilt in criminal actions whether by the trial court or jury shall be set aside if the evidence is insufficient to support the findings by the trier of fact of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Because a verdict of guilt destroys the presumption of innocence and imposes a presumption of guilt, on appeal a convicted criminal defendant challenging the sufficiency of the evidence bears the burden of demonstrating why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict. See State v. Evans, 108 S.W.3d 231, 237 (Tenn.2003). We must reject a convicted criminal defendant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence if after considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution we determine that any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Hall, 8 S.W.3d 593, 599 (Tenn.1999). On appeal, the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable and legitimate inferences which may be drawn therefrom. Hall, 8 S.W.3d at 599. A guilty verdict by the trier of fact accredits the testimony of the State's witnesses and resolves all conflicts in favor of the prosecution's theory of the case. State v. Bland, 958 S.W.2d 651, 659 (Tenn.1997). The trier of fact resolves questions concerning the credibility of witnesses, the weight and value of the evidence, and all factual issues raised by the evidence; an appellate court should not re-weigh or reevaluate the evidence. Evans, 108 S.W.3d at 236; Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 659. In addition, an appellate court should not substitute its own inferences drawn from circumstantial evidence for those drawn by the trier of fact. Evans, 108 S.W.3d at 236-37. The statutory elements of carjacking are the intentional or knowing taking of a motor vehicle from the possession of another by use of either (1) a deadly weapon or (2) force or intimidation. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-404(a) (1997). Both parties concede that Wilson did not use a deadly weapon to take the vehicle from Mr. Burr. Wilson argues that the State failed to prove either force or intimidation. Officer Moyer testified that Wilson inched up under Mr. Burr and that Mr. Burr appeared very surprised and was excited and upset. Officer Macleod testified that when Wilson entered the vehicle in which Mr. Burr was sitting, Mr. Burr looked frantic and scared. Officer Macleod testified that Mr. Burr asked him to remove Wilson from the car. Mr. Burr, however, testified that he did not ask Officer Macleod to remove Wilson from the car and that he got out of the car on [his] own free will and was simply trying to get out of the way. Mr. Burr also stated that he crawled to the passenger-side door to exit the vehicle. The jury accredited the testimony of Officers Macleod and Moyer and concluded that force or intimidation was used to take Mr. Burr's vehicle. In a light most favorable to the State, the evidence is sufficient to support the jury's finding that Wilson took Mr. Burr's car through the use of force or intimidation. Therefore, Wilson is not entitled to relief on this basis. We next consider the sufficiency of the evidence for a conviction of reckless endangerment. The elements of felony reckless endangerment are that (1) a person recklessly engages in conduct which places or may place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury and (2) that it was committed with a deadly weapon. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (1997). Reckless conduct occurs when the person is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the accused person's standpoint. Id. § 39-11-302(c) (1997). In this case, Wilson knew that the officers were chasing him. He was aware of Officer Moyer's presence and consciously disregarded the risk that he might seriously hurt Officer Moyer when he commandeered Mr. Burr's vehicle. Officer Moyer testified that when Wilson moved the car, he was pinned against another vehicle parked nearby and feared his legs would be crushed. An automobile is considered a deadly weapon. State v. Tate, 912 S.W.2d 785, 787 (Tenn.Crim.App.1995). Wilson's conduct meets the requirements for reckless endangerment because he temporarily pinned Officer Moyer between Mr. Burr's car and another car. This evidence is sufficient to show that Wilson was aware of but consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk that nearby police officers could be seriously injured or killed when he carjacked and sped away in Mr. Burr's vehicle. Thus, Wilson's argument with regard to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his reckless endangerment conviction is without merit.