Opinion ID: 1488367
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Battery in the First Degree

Text: We turn first to the battery conviction. Hoyle was charged with violating Ark.Code Ann. § 5-13-201(a)(3) (Supp. 2005), which provides that a person commits battery in the first degree if: He or she causes serious physical injury to another person under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. According to Hoyle, the phrase under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life means deliberate conduct with a knowledge or awareness that one's actions are practically certain to bring about the prohibited result. In Tarentino v. State, 302 Ark. 55, 786 S.W.2d 584 (1990), this court explained that the primary way in which first-degree battery differs from second- and third-degree battery is the state of mind of the actor. The court went on to explain that in order to be convicted of first-degree battery, a defendant must act with the purpose of causing serious physical injury to another person. Moreover, the circumstances of the first-degree battery must by necessity be more dire and formidable in terms of affecting human life. See Tigue v. State, 319 Ark. 147, 889 S.W.2d 760 (1994). The attendant circumstances must be such as to demonstrate the culpable mental state of the accused. Id. The Tigue court further elaborated that first-degree battery involves actions which create at least some risk of death and which, therefore, evidence a mental state on the part of the accused to engage in some life-threatening activity against the victim. Id. Here, the evidence showed that Hoyle acted recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life. Specifically, the evidence demonstrated that Hoyle drove a fully loaded commercial vehicle weighing over 82,000 pounds while under the influence of methamphetamine. Ms. Lowman-Smith testified that she tested Hoyle's urine for drugs and discovered the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine. A subsequent test on Hoyle's blood confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. Dr. Pappas testified that an individual's physical abilities are affected by the presence of methamphetamine in his system, including his driving abilities. According to Dr. Pappas, methamphetamine can cause a driver to weave across lanes of traffic, take undue risks, or leave the roadway. In this case, Hoyle's entire vehicle, with the exception of the right rear axle, crossed into the oncoming-traffic lane, striking the motor home, and ultimately driving through it. Hoyle never attempted to brake prior to the accident or to return to the proper lane of traffic. It is apparent based on the evidence in this case that Hoyle exhibited reckless conduct that involved a conscious disregard of a perceived risk. Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court erred in denying Hoyle's motion for directed verdict on the first-degree battery charge.