Opinion ID: 1919348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 21

Heading: Proof of Kidnaping.

Text: ś 132. Hodges claims that the State failed to meet its burden of proof on the kidnaping charge and that the trial court erred in denying his request for a direct verdict and motion for new trial. Hodges contends that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Cora Johnson was confined against her will and the guilty verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. ś 133. As to the legal sufficiency, this Court has held that reversal can only occur when evidence of one or more of the elements of the charged offense is such that reasonable fair minded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. Stevens v. State, 806 So.2d 1031, 1058 (Miss.2001) (citing Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329, 353 (Miss.1988)). As to the weight of the evidence, this Court has held that it has limited authority to interfere with a jury verdict. McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 133-34 (Miss.1987). This Court looks at all the evidence in the light that is most consistent to the jury verdict. Id. The prosecution is given the benefit of all favorable inferences that may reasonable be drawn from the evidence. Id. In determining whether a jury verdict is against overwhelming weight of the evidence, this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that the circuit court abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Herring v. State, 691 So.2d 948, 957 (Miss.1997) (citing Thornhill v. State, 561 So.2d 1025, 1030 (Miss.1989)). This Court must accept as true the evidence favorable to the State. Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d 803, 812 (Miss. 1987). ś 134. Hodges argues that the verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence and the evidence shows that Cora Johnson went with him voluntarily. However, this Court finds that there is ample evidence presented by the State to establish that Cora Johnson was taken against her will. ś 135. Hodges came to the Johnson house dressed in all black, wearing black gloves, wearing a beige ski mask and carrying a gun. After shooting Isaac Johnson, Hodges went to Cora's bedroom where she had just woken up. She testified that she could not remember what exactly woke her up but when she woke up she saw a person dressed in all black and wearing a mask coming towards her room. When the person spoke Cora knew that it was Quintez Hodges. Hodges came into her room and told her to get her stuff and that she was coming with him. Cora responded and told him that she was not going anywhere with him. When Cora told him no Hodges took his gun and hit her across the head. Dr. Joel Butler, who later examined Cora, testified that above her left eyebrow on her left temple there was mild swelling and faint bruising which was consistent with being hit with a blunt object such as a fist. After being hit in the head, Cora picked up her baby, the baby's bottle and went to get some diapers. While she was gathering some things for the baby, Hodges left the room and headed in the direction of the living room. Cora headed across the hall into her mother's room so that she could call 9-1-1. She saw her brother sitting against the wall and whispered to him to call the police. At this time she was not aware of the fact that Hodges had already shot her brother. As she was walking out of her mother's room, Hodges grabbed her arm and told her not to forget what he had told her earlierâ that he had a gun and to not act stupid. She testified that she did not want to go with him but he grabbed her and pulled her out the door and had the gun pointed at her side. After pushing her and the baby into the car, Hodges took her to Alabama. During the trip to Alabama, Hodges forced Cora into the back seat and raped her with the gun pointed to her head. ś 136. Hodges claims that the evidence supports that Cora went with Hodges voluntarily. Hodges argues that while they had stopped at a store to get milk for the baby, Cora could have escaped or yelled if she did not want to be there. However, Cora was fifteen years old at the time and had her eleven-month-old baby girl with her. Hodges went into the store but informed her that he would be watching. Cora said that she did not do anything because Hodges had a gun and she was afraid that he would shoot her or her baby. Cora stated that she wasn't going to jump out of the car and run because [she] was in fear of [her] life and [her] child's life. Hodges had already informed her that he shot her brother and the reason he had gone to her house that night was to shoot her or her mother if she had been there. She was afraid that is she tried to run Hodges would have shot them. Furthermore, it would have been hard for her to run while holding and protecting her baby. ś 137. Taking all the evidence favorable to the State as true, this Court holds that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. When dealing with the legal sufficiency of the evidence, this Court can only reverse the jury verdict if reasonable fair minded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. Stevens, 806 So.2d at 1058 (emphasis added). There is ample evidence to where the jury could have found that Cora did not go voluntarily. This issue is without merit.