Opinion ID: 2425747
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Corroborating Evidence of Accomplice Testimony

Text: For his first point for reversal, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict on the ground that there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the testimony of accomplices Epps, Campbell, and Diemert. We treat motions for directed verdict as challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence. Marta v. State, 336 Ark. 67, 983 S.W.2d 924 (1999). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we determine whether there is substantial evidence to support the verdict, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State. Id. Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-89-111(e)(1) (1987) provides that a person cannot be convicted of a felony based upon the testimony of an accomplice, unless that testimony is corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense. Corroboration is not sufficient if it merely establishes that the offense was committed and the circumstances thereof. Id. The test for determining the sufficiency of the corroborating evidence is whether, if the testimony of the accomplice were totally eliminated from the case, the other evidence independently establishes the crime and tends to connect the accused with its commission. Marta, 336 Ark. 67, 983 S.W.2d 924. Circumstantial evidence may be used to support accomplice testimony, but it, too, must be substantial. Id. Corroborating evidence need not, however, be so substantial in and of itself to sustain a conviction. Id. The record reflects that at the conclusion of all the evidence, the trial court instructed the jury that Epps was an accomplice to the capital murder as a matter of law; thus, there is no dispute that his testimony must be corroborated as to that charge. The trial court also instructed the jury that Epps, Campbell, and Diemert were accomplices to the kidnapping as a matter of law; hence, their testimony must be corroborated by other evidence of the kidnapping. The trial court did not, however, instruct the jury that Campbell and Diemert were accomplices to the capital murder, either as a matter of law or fact. It is not apparent from the record that Appellant ever requested that Campbell and Diemert be submitted as accomplices to the capital murder. At the conclusion of the State's evidence, defense counsel made the following motion: Your Honor, the defense moves for a directed verdict based upon the sufficiency of the evidence. First on the kidnapping charge, we argue that there's no corroboration. All the testimony of the kidnapping came from Candace Campbell, Robert Diemert, and Chris Epps, who were all co-defendants and accomplices with Jason McGehee and, therefore, it is not sufficient merely to show that a crime was committed but that this defendant committed a crime and there's no corroboration on that issue. Similarly, on the capital murder charge, there's no corroboration that he aided, abetted or solicited or participated in the murder other than being present which is not sufficient. And again, it's not sufficient merely to show that a crime was committed, so we move for a directed verdict on those two issues. [Emphasis added.] We do not view counsel's statements as a request to have the jury decide the issue of Campbell's and Diemert's status as accomplices to the capital murder. Accordingly, we agree with the State that Appellant is now procedurally barred from arguing that they are accomplices to the murder. The appellant bears the burden of proving that a witness is an accomplice whose testimony must be corroborated. Lloyd v. State, 332 Ark. 1, 962 S.W.2d 365 (1998). A defendant must either have the trial court declare a witness to be an accomplice as a matter of law or submit the issue to the jury for determination. Hogue v. State, 323 Ark. 515, 915 S.W.2d 276 (1996); Rockett v. State, 319 Ark. 335, 891 S.W.2d 366 (1995). Where the witness was never found to be an accomplice, and that appellant failed to request that accomplice instructions be submitted to the jury for consideration, the issue is not preserved for our consideration. Lloyd, 332 Ark. 1, 962 S.W.2d 365; Rockett, 319 Ark. 335, 891 S.W.2d 366. In the present case, Appellant did not request that Campbell and Diemert be declared to be accomplices to the capital murder as a matter of law, nor did he request that their status be submitted to the jury for determination. Rather, Campbell and Diemert were only declared to be accomplices on the charge of kidnapping. Thus, only Epps's testimony must be corroborated on the murder charge.
The record reflects that on August 19, 1996, John Melbourne Jr. and Anthony Page went to Cooper's Shoe Store in Harrison to cash a stolen check. The store's owner, Rick Harness, testified that the two young men found some shoes and attempted to pay for them with a payroll check made out to John Melbourne for about $125. Harness told them that he could not accept the check because it was not filled out completely. They left and returned thirty minutes later with the check filled out properly. Harness sold them the shoes and gave them cash for the difference. After they left the second time, Harness became suspicious and called the bank about the check. Upon being informed that the check was stolen, Harness called the police. Officer Mark Rupp of the Harrison Police Department arrived at the shoe store to investigate the incident. While he was there, one of the employees noticed that the guy who passed the check was standing across the street wearing the shoes he had just purchased. Melbourne and Page were subsequently arrested and questioned. Officers seized the shoes and cash from Melbourne as evidence and gave him a property receipt for them. Melbourne told Officer Rupp about the circumstances surrounding the incident at the shoe store. He also told the officer where he got the check. Acting upon Melbourne's information, Officer Rupp recovered stolen checks from an open basement area under Appellant's house at 1123 North Spring Street in Harrison. The checks had the same name on them as the check cashed by Melbourne at the shoe store. Officers also recovered other stolen property from the house. Candace Campbell testified that during the afternoon of August 19, 1996, Appellant told Melbourne to cash a stolen check at a local shoe store. The check had been made out by Appellant's girlfriend, Mandy Trice. Campbell stated that Melbourne went to the store twice, and that he did not come back after the second visit. While he was gone, the police came to Appellant's house. Appellant, McFarland, Epps, and Campbell hid in the back of the house where they could see the officers through a hole in the floor. They watched as the officers entered the open basement area and recovered some stolen property. After the officers left, the group surmised that Melbourne must have been caught attempting to pass the stolen check and had told the police what had happened. The group then decided that they should beat up Melbourne because he had snitched on them. McFarland and Epps left with the neighbor, Charla Bright, to look for Melbourne. They went with Bright because she was the only one who had a car. A short time after they returned, Melbourne also returned. Melbourne was greeted by Appellant, who asked him what had happened and what he had told the police. Melbourne admitted that he had been arrested, but he denied telling the police anything. Melbourne showed Appellant a piece of paper, presumably the property receipt that he received from the police when they seized the shoes. Epps suddenly came at Melbourne and began hitting and kicking him. When Epps stopped, Appellant started talking to Melbourne again. Eventually, Appellant began hitting Melbourne. Campbell stated that Appellant was mad that Melbourne had snitched on them for writing the checks and having the stolen property because he would have to go to prison. Appellant continued hitting Melbourne for about ten or fifteen minutes, after which Epps and McFarland joined in and began hitting and kicking him, too. Campbell admitted that she also hit Melbourne a couple of times. According to Campbell, the group continued to beat Melbourne for over an hour. Afterwards, Appellant went over to a neighbor's house where Diemert was visiting. Diemert came back with Appellant and they all left to go to Utah. It was Appellant's idea to go to Utah, as he had relatives there. They left in Diemert's car, with Melbourne sitting in the back seat between McFarland and Epps. Melbourne was tied up and weakened from the beating; he was swollen, and there were a lot of bruises and red marks on his body. It was Appellant's idea to stop in Omaha, Arkansas, before they went to Utah. Appellant gave Diemert directions on how to get to his uncle's house in Omaha. Campbell stated that at first, the plan was to drop off both Epps and Melbourne in Omaha. During the drive, however, she heard either McFarland or Epps ask Melbourne how it felt knowing that he was going to die. When they arrived at Appellant's uncle's house, the group again proceeded to beat Melbourne for approximately one hour. Appellant hit and kicked Melbourne and also threw a box fan at him, hitting him once in the chest and the second time in the head. Melbourne attempted to escape through the kitchen, but he was caught and thrown to the ground by Appellant, Epps, and McFarland. Campbell stated that Appellant did most of the beating at Omaha. Appellant also asked Melbourne what it felt like knowing that he was going to die. At one point, Appellant, McFarland, Campbell, and Diemert went out on the front porch to smoke. While they were outside, Appellant suggested that they get rid of Melbourne. Appellant told Diemert and Campbell to wait in the car. Appellant, Epps, and McFarland then took Melbourne out behind the house. After they had been gone for ten or fifteen minutes, Campbell heard someone yell. She stated that they were gone for at least thirty minutes, and that when they returned, Melbourne was not with them. Appellant, Epps, and McFarland then went back inside the house to make sure that they had not left anything behind. The group then left for Utah, stopping first at a local gas station. While at the gas station, McFarland pulled Campbell aside and told her that they had taken Melbourne's life. Part of the group eventually made it to Utah, where Appellant, McFarland, and Campbell broke into Appellant's aunt's house and stole her car, a checkbook, and some other items, and were later arrested by the Utah authorities. Shortly thereafter, Campbell told the Boone County authorities about the murder and where they could find the body. Diemert testified that he had rented the house at 1123 Spring Street and that he let Appellant move in with him. Diemert moved out sometime in July 1996. On the night of August 19, 1996, Diemert was visiting a friend that lived on Spring Street. Appellant approached him that night about going to Utah. Diemert stated that Appellant had previously talked to him about moving to Utah and getting jobs, but that he had not planned to go to Utah that night until Appellant approached him about it. Diemert stated that it was Appellant's decision to go to Omaha, where his uncle lived. On the way, Diemert heard Appellant ask Melbourne how it felt to know that he was going to die. Once they arrived at Appellant's uncle's house, the group began hitting Melbourne and asking him why he had snitched on them. According to Diemert, Appellant hit Melbourne with a box fan and struck him with a stick eight or nine times. Appellant, McFarland, and Epps also hit Melbourne in the head numerous times with a wooden ax handle. At one point, Appellant put a butcher's knife to Melbourne's throat. Diemert admitted that he hit Melbourne one time because Appellant told him to do so. At some point after they had beaten Melbourne, Diemert, Appellant, McFarland, and Campbell went outside to smoke and to discuss what they should do next. Appellant then told Diemert and Campbell to wait in the car. Diemert watched as Appellant, McFarland, and Epps took Melbourne down into the woods behind the house. Diemert saw that Melbourne was naked and his hands were tied. About thirty minutes later, Appellant, Epps, and McFarland came out of the woods without Melbourne. Diemert stated that the three of them were laughing. Appellant told Diemert not to worry about Melbourne because he was fine. Charla Bright, Appellant's neighbor, testified that on August 19, 1996, she took Epps and McFarland riding around with her to look for some drugs. They ran into Melbourne on Main Street. Epps and McFarland shouted to Melbourne to follow them. Bright then pulled into a parking lot where Epps and McFarland talked to Melbourne. After they finished talking, Epps and McFarland told Bright to take them back to Spring Street. Bright dropped them off and then went home. Later that evening, Bright, Epps, and McFarland went riding around again. This time they went looking for drugs on the town square, where they encountered Anthony Page. McFarland talked to Page, while Epps and Bright waited in the car. Afterwards, Bright dropped off McFarland and Epps at Appellant's house. At some point during the evening, Bright heard something hitting or thumping against the wall of Appellant's house. She went over to see what was happening, but when she knocked on the door, they would not let her enter; instead, they opened the door slightly and told her that they would be out in a little bit. She then went home. Upon hearing more of the same noise, Bright went back to Appellant's house. This time, when they opened the door, she stuck her foot between the door and the jam and used her hip to force open the door. From the doorway, she saw Melbourne in the front bedroom, standing up against the wall where McFarland and Epps were beating him. Appellant appeared to be in charge of Melbourne's beating. Bright asked Campbell what was going on, and Campbell told her not to worry about it because she was just going to get herself into trouble. Appellant soon came over to Bright and told her not to worry about it, that Melbourne was his homey and that they were not going to hurt him. Appellant told her that Melbourne had narked them out about the stolen checks, and that if they were in a bigger city, Melbourne would be killed for what he had done. Appellant assured her that Melbourne was their friend and that they were just going to teach him a lesson. Later that night, Bright heard people at Appellant's house slamming doors and yelling let's go, and saying that they were in a hurry. Anthony Page testified that on August 19, 1996, he went with Melbourne to the shoe store to cash the stolen check and was subsequently arrested with Melbourne. Page said he knew that the check was stolen because it was on the same account as a check that he had previously cashed for Appellant. On the night that he and Melbourne were arrested, Page was approached by McFarland on the town square. Page stated that McFarland told him that Melbourne had snitched on them, and that they had him at the house where he was in the process of getting the worse [sic] ass beating of his life[.] Other corroborating evidence of Appellant's participation in the capital murder included the following testimony. Charles McMahan testified that he owned the farm residence where Melbourne's body was found. During August 1996, McMahan had rented the place to a man by the name of McGehee. Appellant stipulated that his uncle had lived in the house. Detective Marc Arnold, of the Harrison Police Department, testified that he had accompanied Carrie Myers, Appellant's landlord, to the residence on Spring Street three days after the murder. While he was inside the house, Arnold found the property receipt that had been issued to Melbourne the day that he was arrested. Al Rowland, from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, examined the receipt and found Appellant's left thumb print on the document. Dr. Charles Kokes, an associate medical examiner at the State Crime Laboratory, performed an autopsy on Melbourne's body, which was severely decomposed. Dr. Kokes testified that there was evidence of trauma to Melbourne's skull. Particularly, he found numerous small fractures on front of the cranium, around the nasal aperture, on the left cheekbone, and near the left orbit, the bony depression that houses the eyeball. Additionally, there were two traumatic indentations on the right side of front of the skull. Dr. Kokes stated that the fractures were indicative of blunt force being used on the victim, and that the injuries he observed would be consistent with multiple beatings over a long period of time by persons using fists, feet, and various other devices. Dr. Kokes indicated that the manner of Melbourne's death was homicide, and that the blunt-force injuries to the victim's head played a part in his death. [1] The foregoing testimony is sufficient to independently establish that John Melbourne Jr. was murdered and that Appellant was connected to his murder. Appellant was motivated to harm Melbourne because he thought that Melbourne had snitched to police about his criminal activity. It was Appellant's idea to flee to Utah and to stop at his uncle's house in Omaha, where Melbourne's body was later found partially hidden behind some bushes. The evidence supports the State's theory that Appellant was the leader of this group of people, and that he orchestrated the events of August 19, 1996, that culminated in Melbourne's murder. We thus conclude that there was sufficient corroborating evidence that Appellant committed the offense of capital murder. We turn now to the sufficiency of the evidence on the charge of kidnapping.
A person commits the offense of kidnapping if, without consent, he restrains another person so as to interfere substantially with his liberty for the purpose of inflicting physical injury upon him or terrorizing him. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-11-102 (Repl.1997). Epps, Campbell, and Diemert were declared to be accomplices as a matter of law on the charge of kidnapping Melbourne. The question then is whether, excluding their testimony, the other evidence independently establishes that Melbourne was kidnapped and tends to connect Appellant with the crime. We conclude that it does. As discussed above, Anthony Page testified that after he and Melbourne were arrested and released, McFarland approached Page on the town square and inquired about whether Page knew that Melbourne had been arrested and whether he had snitched on them. Page denied knowing anything about it, as he was afraid of what might happen to him if they found out that he and Melbourne had snitched. Page said that McFarland then proceeded to tell him that Melbourne had snitched on them and that they had him at the house and he was in the process of getting the worse [sic] ass beating of his life[.] (Emphasis added) Similarly, Charla Bright testified that when she went over to Appellant's house and let herself in the front door, she saw Melbourne up against the wall in the bedroom while McFarland and Epps were beating him. She also stated that Appellant was in charge of Melbourne's beating. This testimony establishes that Melbourne was at Appellant's house against his will and that he was being restrained by the group for the purpose of terrorizing him or inflicting physical injury upon him. Additionally, there was testimony from Lisa Sakevisius, Chief Criminalist at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, that a hair found on the couch at Appellant's uncle's house in Omaha was similar in nature and could have a common origin with the hair found in Melbourne's bedroom and the hair that came from the head of the victim's body. We agree with the State that this evidence suggests that Melbourne was alive when he was brought to the house in Omaha, thus supporting the kidnapping charge. We thus affirm the trial court's denial of the directed-verdict motion.