Opinion ID: 1702179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Summary of Arguments and Discussion of Law

Text: Fleming argues that the trial court should have granted an acquittal notwithstanding the verdict on grounds that the prosecution produced insufficient evidence to sustain the conviction. Specifically, Fleming maintains (1) that the state introduced no evidence that he personally removed or intended to remove any of Nichols' property; and (2) that the state hangs its assault charge solely on the testimony of an accomplice whose story is self-contradictory and substantially impeached. A trial court may properly set aside the verdict of a jury only where, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, no reasonable, hypothetical juror could have found that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Lanier v. State, 533 So.2d 473, 479 (Miss. 1988). This Court detailed the trial court's task in Lee v. State, 469 So.2d 1225 (Miss. 1985): Where a defendant has moved for J.N.O.V., the trial court must consider all of the evidence  not just the evidence which supports the State's case  in the light most favorable to the State. May v. State, 460 So.2d 778, 781 (Miss. 1984). The evidence which is consistent with the verdict must be accepted as true. Williams v. State, 463 So.2d 1064, 1067 (Miss. 1984); Spikes v. State, 302 So.2d 250, 251 (Miss. 1974). The State must also be given the benefit of all favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence. Glass v. State, 278 So.2d 384, 386 (Miss. 1973). If the facts and inferences so considered point in favor of the defendant with sufficient force that reasonable men could not have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty, granting the motion is required. On the other hand, if there is substantial evidence opposed to the motion, that is, evidence of such quality and weight that, having in mind the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt burden of proof standard, reasonable fair-minded men in the exercise of impartial judgment might reach different conclusions, the motion should be denied and the jury's verdict allowed to stand. May v. State, 460 So.2d 778, 781 (Miss. 1984). Lee, 469 So.2d at 1229-30. On appeal, this Court will not reverse the denial of a motion for acquittal notwithstanding the verdict unless the verdict is against the substantial weight of the evidence. Leflore v. State, 535 So.2d 68, 70 (Miss. 1988). [B]efore a conviction of any crime may stand, there must be in the record evidence sufficient to establish each element of the crime. Fisher v. State, 481 So.2d 203, 211 (Miss. 1985); see Edwards v. State, 469 So.2d 68, 70 (Miss. 1985); Watson v. State, 465 So.2d 1025, 1031 (Miss. 1985); Neal v. State, 451 So.2d 743, 757 (Miss.), cert. denied 469 U.S. 1098, 105 S.Ct. 607, 83 L.Ed.2d 716 (1984). Relying on this rule of law, Fleming argues that the prosecution was required to prove that he personally committed every act listed in his indictment. The indictment, in its most pertinent language, charges that Fleming [1] did, with intent; [2] take the property of Keith Nichols; [3] in the presence of Keith Nichols; [4] by putting Keith Nichols in fear of some immediate injury to his person or by violence to his person; [5] said property being one C.B. radio and one wallet containing approximately $60.00. The record is replete with evidence that specific property was intentionally taken from the presence of Keith Nichols by violent means. Fleming contends, however, that the proof does not show that he personally took anything. Indeed, a close scrutiny of the record reveals no direct evidence and virtually no circumstantial evidence that Fleming took Keith Nichols' property. Apart from Flemings' mere presence at the scene (which he admits) the only evidence of asportation by Fleming is Tyrone Mitchell's testimony that he saw Fleming exiting Nichols' truck accompanied by Andrews and Gray. Several items of evidence suggest that Fleming did not personally remove anything from Nichols' possession: e.g., Mitchell's acknowledgement that he saw nothing in Fleming's hands when Fleming allegedly exited the truck; the testimony of Andrews that he did not know who removed Nichols' wallet; the additional testimony by Andrews that Fleming did not enter the truck; and Fleming's express denial of wrongdoing. Moreover, Fleming argues that the record contains no credible evidence that he wielded the weapon which felled Nichols. Again, he is right. The only evidence showing that Fleming personally struck Nichols is the substantially impeached testimony of codefendant Andrews. If the state were required to prove that Fleming committed the crimes single-handedly, Fleming would perhaps prevail: The evidence presented does not solidly prove that Fleming struck Nichols or personally took his property. Fleming's argument misses the point, however, by ignoring this state's doctrine of aiding and abetting. At trial, the court granted the following instruction: [E]ach person present at the time, and consenting to and encouraging the commission of a crime, and knowingly, wilfully and feloniously doing any act which is an element of the crime or immediately connected with it, or leading to its commission, is as much a principal as if he had with his own hand committed the whole offense. This instruction embodies an accurate statement of the law. See Sayles v. State, 552 So.2d 1383, 1389 (Miss. 1989) (person who aids, counsels, or encourages another in commission of crime is equally guilty with principal offender). Whether Fleming personally committed each of these acts is thus irrelevant. The pertinent issue is whether he participated in or encouraged the crimes. The evidence of Fleming's participation is threefold. First, there is codefendant Andrews' testimony that Fleming helped plan the crime and personally carried out the assault. Secondly, there is codefendant Gray's statement, introduced as hearsay through Sergeant Butler's testimony, that Fleming conspired to commit the crime and that Fleming left the temple carrying an iron pipe. Thirdly, there is Tyrone Mitchell's testimony that he saw Fleming, Andrews, and Gray climbing down out of Nichols' truck. In determining whether this body of evidence is sufficient to sustain Fleming's conviction, we must initially observe the weaknesses attributable to each of these three articles of testimony. First of all, Andrews' testimony concerning Fleming's role in the assault requires corroboration. According to Fairchild v. State, 459 So.2d 793, 798 (Miss. 1984), a defendant may be convicted on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice only where the testimony is reasonable and not improbable, self-contradictory, or substantially impeached. See also Evans v. State, 460 So.2d 824, 827 (Miss. 1984); Winters v. State, 449 So.2d 766, 771 (Miss. 1984); Rainer v. State, 438 So.2d 290, 292 (Miss. 1983); Gandy v. State, 438 So.2d 279, 285 (Miss. 1983); Mason v. State, 429 So.2d 569, 571 (Miss. 1983). Andrews' account was seriously and substantially impeached at trial. First, the defense elicited an admission from Andrews that he had agreed to testify against Fleming in exchange for the prosecution's promise not to prosecute him for robbery. The defense also highlighted the lack of candor implicit in Andrews' initial denial that he had made a deal. In addition, Andrews admitted on cross-examination that he had been drinking heavily on the night of the incident. The most damning impeachment, however, came from Fleming's cellmate who testified that Andrews had told him that Fred Fleming was mad with him `cause he won't tell the truth about hitting the man with the pipe. Mitchell's testimony that he saw Fleming exiting Nichols' truck is circumstantial evidence supporting the prosecution's charge that Fleming participated in the crime. The state may prove a crime solely by circumstantial evidence, however, only where the circumstantial evidence is sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence. Brown v. State, 556 So.2d 338, 340 (Miss. 1990); Sudduth v. State, 562 So.2d 67, 71-72 (Miss. 1990); Steele v. State, 544 So.2d 802, 808 (Miss. 1989); see also Murphy v. State, 566 So.2d 1201, 1204 (Miss. 1990) (where case rests wholly on circumstantial evidence, burden of proof is heavier than when direct evidence is offered). The defendant's own story  that he was a bystander who observed first-hand the assault and robbery of Keith Nichols  is a reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence which Mitchell's testimony does not overcome. Fleming disavows having ever entered the truck, but such a denial is understandable for a man in Fleming's position. Even if Fleming did enter the truck during the course of the robbery as Mitchell's testimony implies, he could have done so out of curiosity about what the codefendants were doing. Alternatively, in light of his testimony that he sought to discourage the crime since Nichols knew his name and phone number, he could have entered the truck in an attempt to dissuade the perpetrators. Either scenario is a reasonable hypothesis which the state's circumstantial evidence does not refute. The only direct and unimpeached evidence implicating Fleming in the crime is Sergeant Butler's testimony regarding what Flavian Gray said in his written statement. Ironically, this testimony was elicited by the defense. When counsel for the defense began to cross-examine Butler, neither side had yet mentioned either the identity of Flavian Gray or the existence of written statements by codefendants. Nevertheless, the defense questioned Butler as follows: Q. Now, do you recall the date that you got the statement from Leroy Andrews and Flavian Gray? A. Yes, ma'am. ..... Q. Okay. Do you recall whether or not they were willing to cooperate with you when you asked for that statement? A. Yes, ma'am. They gave oral statements to the arresting officer and the following day of the arrest, which was the 28th, they gave me a signed and written statement to their involvement, as well as Freddie's. Q. Do you recall Flavian Gray telling you that it was Leroy Andrews  A. No, ma'am  Q.  who hit him with an iron pipe? A. No, ma'am. ..... Q. Okay. Do you  in your investigation, did you locate the weapon at all that Mr. Nichols was hit with? A. No, ma'am. We went back to the park based on the statement from the two codefendants, Leroy [Andrews] and Flavian [Gray]. They stated that Freddie had an iron pipe with tape. The pipe originated from a gang meeting they had had on Woodrow Wilson and Freddie left there with the pipe and I went back to the park, but I couldn't locate the pipe. Q. Is that what they said  A. So I assume somebody  Q.  is that what they told you? A. Yes. The defense thus helped bring about Fleming's undoing. Although the version of events offered by an accomplice is to be viewed with great caution and suspicion ( Gandy, 438 So.2d at 285), [2] it is nevertheless sufficient to sustain a conviction unless it is [un]reasonable, improbable, self-contradictory, or substantially impeached. See Fairchild, 459 So.2d at 798; Gandy, 438 So.2d at 285. Neither Gray's statement nor Butler's repetition of it suffers from any of these infirmities. Had the state elicited Butler's testimony concerning Gray's out-of-court statement, the defense could and should have objected on grounds of hearsay, the right to confrontation, and the right to cross-examination. See Sisk v. State, 290 So.2d 608, 610 (Miss. 1974) (conviction reversed where introduction of search warrant and affidavit allowed the state to get into evidence hearsay statements which deprived appellant of the right of confrontation and cross examination). But here, Butler testified at defense counsel's own prompting. It is axiomatic that a defendant cannot complain on appeal concerning evidence that he himself brought out at trial. See Singleton v. State, 518 So.2d 653, 655 (Miss. 1988); Davis v. State, 530 So.2d 694, 699 (Miss. 1988); Brown v. State, 534 So.2d 1019, 1024 (Miss. 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1007, 109 S.Ct. 1643, 104 L.Ed.2d 158 (1989); Lewis v. State, 445 So.2d 1387, 1389 (Miss. 1984); Simpson v. State, 366 So.2d 1085, 1086 (Miss.), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 930, 99 S.Ct. 2861, 61 L.Ed.2d 298 (1979); Sanders v. State, 219 So.2d 913 (Miss.), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 913, 90 S.Ct. 228, 24 L.Ed.2d 188 (1969); see also Shannon v. State, 321 So.2d 1, 2 (Miss. 1975) (no error where objectionable statements were to a great extent the product of the cross and direct examinations by the defense attorney). As the Court stated pithily in Reddix v. State, 381 So.2d 999, 1009 (Miss.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 986, 101 S.Ct. 408, 66 L.Ed.2d 251 (1980): If the defendant goes fishing in the state's waters, he must take such fish as he catches. If defense counsel had refrained from bringing Gray's statement into evidence, the state would have been left with Andrews' substantially impeached story and Mitchell's circumstantial testimony. We would then have been faced with deciding whether Mitchell's story of circumstantial involvement sufficiently corroborated codefendant Andrews' allegations of direct involvement. We need not decide that question, however, for two reasons. First, Butler's reiteration of Gray's statement is sufficient in and of itself to sustain Fleming's conviction. Secondly, Fleming's appellate counsel expressly conceded during oral argument that Mitchell's testimony created a question of fact for the jury. For purposes of this appeal, therefore, we must assume that Mitchell's testimony was sufficient to sustain the jury's verdict. See State ex rel. Suddoth v. Tann, 172 Miss. 162, 159 So. 539, 540 (1935) (point not argued on appeal is deemed waived); Rayl v. Thurman, 156 Miss. 8, 125 So. 912, 914 (1930) (assignment of error not argued will be taken as waived); see also 5B C.J.S. Appeal and Error § 1801 (citing Tann ) (Where an assignment of error has been waived, as it may be by ... express waiver or abandonment in ... oral argument, such error will not be further considered). The trial court did not err in denying Fleming's motion for an acquittal notwithstanding the verdict.