Opinion ID: 1246720
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appeal of Defendant Coffey

Text: Defendant Coffey assigns as error the failure of the trial judge to grant his motion for judgment as of nonsuit. Counsel for defendant Coffey moved for judgment as of nonsuit at the close of State's evidence and moved to dismiss at the close of all the evidence. The motions were denied. When a motion for judgment as of nonsuit or a motion to dismiss is lodged in a criminal action, the court must consider all the evidence actually admitted, whether competent or incompetent, in the light most favorable to the State. All contradictions or discrepancies must be resolved in its favor, and it must be given the benefit of every reasonable inference to be drawn from the evidence. When all the evidence is so considered, it is for the court to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that the charged offense has been committed and that the defendant was the perpetrator of the offense. If, when so considered, the evidence is only sufficient to raise a suspicion or conjecture that the offense has been committed or that the defendant committed the charged offense, then the motion for judgment as of nonsuit or the motion to dismiss should be allowed. State v. Cutler, 271 N.C. 379, 156 S.E.2d 679 (1967). See also State v. Hankerson, 288 N.C. 632, 220 S.E.2d 575 (1975), reversed on other grounds, 432 U.S. 233, 97 S.Ct. 2339, 53 L.Ed.2d 306 (1977). In the case before us, the State rests its case on the charge of robbery with firearms against defendant Coffey upon the theory that he aided and abetted in the commission of the crime. In support of this position, the State relies heavily upon the case of State v. Sanders, 288 N.C. 285, 218 S.E.2d 352 (1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1091, 96 S.Ct. 886, 47 L.Ed.2d 102 (1976). In Sanders the defendant was charged with malicious injury to occupied personal property and willful and malicious injury to Albert Stout, Jr., by means of an explosive device. The State proceeded upon the theory of aiding and abetting and offered evidence tending to show that the defendant was present when a bomb was placed in S.B.I. Agent Stout's car, and was at that time seated in a nearby automobile guarding Jewel Hutton, who testified as a State's witness at trial and averred that he was a police informer. When the defendant in the company of Hutton, Jack Sellers and Otis Blackmon arrived at the place where Stout's automobile was parked, Blackmon and Sellers left the car carrying a paper bag in which the defendant had earlier seen dynamite and wiring. Blackmon and Sellers raised the hood of Agent Stout's automobile and worked there for about ten minutes and returned to the car without the paper bag. The four left together. At about 8:00 a. m. on the morning of 10 September 1974, Agent Stout entered his automobile and when he turned his key in the ignition, he was seriously injured by an explosion. This Court in upholding the trial judge's denial of defendant's motion for judgment as of nonsuit stated: The mere presence of the defendant at the scene of the crime, even though he is in sympathy with the criminal act and does nothing to prevent its commission, does not make him guilty of the offense. State v. Rankin, 284 N.C. 219, 200 S.E.2d 182 (1973); State v. Gaines, 260 N.C. 228, 132 S.E.2d 485 (1963). To support a conviction, the State's evidence must be sufficient to support a finding that the defendant was present, actually or constructively, with the intent to aid the perpetrators in the commission of the offense should his assistance become necessary and that such intent was communicated to the actual perpetrators. The communication or intent to aid, if needed, does not have to be shown by express words of the defendant but may be inferred from his actions and from his relation to the actual perpetrators. State v. Hargett, 255 N.C. 412, 121 S.E.2d 589 (1961); State v. Holland, 234 N.C. 354, 67 S.E.2d 272 (1951). Accord: State v. Scott, 289 N.C. 712, 224 S.E.2d 185 (1976). Here the State strongly contends that defendant's relation to the actual perpetrator of the armed robbery and his actions at the scene of the crime communicated an intent to aid defendant Brown in the commission of the crime. It is true that defendant Coffey was present at the scene of the alleged crime and was apparently on friendly terms with the defendant Brown. This is not enough to permit the jury to find Coffey guilty on the theory of aiding and abetting. State v. Scott, supra . The only additional evidence which might permit an inference that defendant Coffey intended to aid defendant Brown is that Coffey had loaned Brown $100 of the purchase price of the stereo and had made some statement as to where the stereo was obtained. In considering the weight of all the evidence, it must be borne in mind that the evidence overwhelmingly shows that defendants Brown and Coffey initially came to the Winkler apartment for the sole purpose of selling the stereo. It was only after David Pruett displayed a knife that defendant Brown left the apartment and returned armed with a shotgun. This was the beginning of the crucial period as to defendant Coffey's innocence or guilt on the charge of robbery with firearms. From the moment that defendant Brown returned to the Winkler apartment with the shotgun, we are unable to find any evidence which would support a reasonable inference that defendant Coffey did anything to indicate or communicate to defendant Brown an intent to aid him in the commission of the crime of robbery with firearms should his assistance be necessary. To the contrary, the victim of the alleged crime stated that defendant Coffey didn't hardly move, he was standing behind the couch and he never did really move. Further, Pruett's wife testified, Palmer Junior Coffey never touched the gun and didn't communicate or assist Jesse Brown. The State's witness Jeff Winkler said, Junior Coffey never threatened me in any way and I don't even recall him saying anything. Obviously, Sanders and instant case are distinguishable. In Sanders there is ample evidence that defendant was present at the scene, actually assisting the actual perpetrators of the crime with knowledge of their plan to commit the crimes. Here there was no evidence that defendant even knew that defendant Brown intended to commit the crime of armed robbery. There was no evidence that he by word or act communicated an intent to Brown to aid him should assistance become necessary. In our opinion, all of the evidence in this case was only sufficient to raise a suspicion that defendant Coffey might have been guilty of the charged crime. Such evidence is not sufficient to repel defendant Coffey's motion for judgment as of nonsuit. The verdict and judgment in State v. Palmer Junior Coffey, No. 78-CR-348 are vacated, and it is ordered that the action in that case be dismissed. As to defendant Coffey, REVERSED. As to defendant Brown, NEW TRIAL.