Opinion ID: 853675
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence for Conspiracy

Text: Jester next contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for conspiracy to commit murder. Conspiracy to commit a felony requires three elements: 1) the intent to commit a felony, 2) an agreement with another person to commit a felony, and 3) an overt act, performed by either the defendant or the person with whom the defendant has entered into the agreement. Ind.Code Ann. § 35-41-5-2 (West 1998). Jester challenges his conspiracy conviction on the basis of the second element, arguing that there was no evidence that he entered into an agreement with Mark Williams because Williams never explicitly agreed to murder Teresa. (Appellant's Br. at 14.) To prove the agreement element of conspiracy, the State need not prove the existence of a formal, express agreement. Rather, the conspiracy may be proved solely on the basis of circumstantial evidence. Vance v. State, 640 N.E.2d 51 (Ind. 1994). In support of the conspiracy charge, the State offered the testimony of Mark Williams, with whom Jester allegedly conspired. Williams testified that Jester approached him in February 1995, and again in the spring of 1995, and asked Williams to kill Teresa. (R. at 1167.) Williams did not make any firm plans with Jester, but testified I said I'd do it, I just didn't say when or how. (R. at 1168.) Williams also said he was open for suggestions. (Id.) Later, Jester made more specific plans with Williams, telling him that the body couldn't turn up missing ... and... had to be found for insurance purposes. (R. at 1169.) Jester also gave Williams a .38 caliber pistol and $300. (R. at 1170-71.) Later, Williams began putting [Jester] off and was unsure about carrying through with the murder. (R. at 1168.) Jester contends that this uncertainty establishes a lack of agreement. The jury was entitled to disagree. At some point, Williams did agree to participate in Teresa's murder, even if he later changed his mind. Thus, the evidence was sufficient to prove the existence of an agreement to support Jester's conviction for conspiracy to commit murder.